SEF is partnering with United Way of Lane County for BookFest!
We have an exciting announcement! SEF is partnering with United Way of Lane County for BookFest this Spring! During the month of March, we will be collecting gently used books and donations to purchase new books. With the funds raised, United Way will purchase three books for each K-2nd grade student at two Springfield Schools. Over 400 elementary students will have books of their own choosing to take home for summer reading!
The students at these schools will get to select their favorite books from a “menu” of beloved and popular books. At the end of the school year, they’ll receive individualized book bags containing their chosen books (plus extras donated through this year’s book drives) to build their home libraries. Increasing students’ access to age-appropriate books is one of the key components to improving reading scores.
Donation boxes will also be available to collect gently used books during the month of March – see below for how to donate!
Third grade is a crucial time for students: when children transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Yet in Lane County, 55% of third-graders are not reading at grade level, meaning they’re four times less likely to graduate from high school on time. This number increases dramatically for students experiencing poverty, who are 13 times less likely to graduate on time when not reading at grade level by third grade. BookFest helps K-2 students build their home libraries, maintain reading gains over the summer, and ultimately, help improve reading scores. Access to early reading critical and analytical thinking skills, memory, concentration, vocabulary, and self-esteem.
Learn more about BookFest at United Way of Lane County’s BookFest site!
Donate new or gently used books or make a donation to support the purchase of new books! To supply students with quality used books, we ask that books are:
- Age-appropriate for K-2nd grade
- New or nearly new
- Culturally diverse
- Engaging and fun, including sensory-friendly
We are unable to accept damaged books (broken bindings, tears, missing pages, soiled, musty, moldy, writing in or on the book, etc.) or religious books.
Book donations will be accepted at the SPS Administration Building or can be arranged for pickup by emailing Ashley@SpringfieldEducationFoundation.org.
Monetary donations can be made at SEFLane.org/Give by indicating “BookFest” in the comment section.
(Make sure to indicate “BookFest” in the comments!)
