When I was a kid, my favorite book was Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. I probably made my mom and dad read it to me about a million times. I don’t think I have even seen a copy of this book in about 15 years, but I can still picture all of the illustrations, and I can still remember giggling like a maniac every time we got to the part when the Elementary School had to close because a giant pancake fell out of the sky and covered it up! Maybe you remember this book too, or maybe you liked Amelia Bedilia, or Green Eggs and Ham, or Babar. Either way, I’d be willing to venture a guess that most of PoP’s readership holds a fond memory of a favorite childhood book.
Unfortunately a lot of children in Washington DC miss out on the chance to make these memories. According to the US Department of Education, a common theme among underperforming children is that they have limited to no access to reading books. And more than 60 percent of low income families have not a single book at home for their children. Books for America’s founder, Stephen Hersey wanted to find a way to make it possible for families who didn’t have the means to be able to provide books for their children, and that is just what he is helping to do.
Hersey started his not for profit organization in 2002 as a way to promote literacy and education by donating new and used books of all types to organizations that serve disadvantaged communities and individuals. Since 2005 the organization has been headquartered at 1417 22nd Street in Dupont Circle, in their “Bookstore with a purpose.” How it works is pretty simple; lots of people donate books, all children’s books and others that are deemed appropriate for their recipient organizations (these include transitional homeless shelters, adult literacy programs, military bases, correctional facilities, senior centers, women’s shelters, and more) are distributed. A number of these organizations are right in PoPville too, including EL Haynes Public Charter School, Centronia, Meridian Public Charter School, to name a few. The remaining books are sold in the store at low prices. It’s a great model, and actually provides almost all of the funding for the organization so that they can be less reliant on grants. Continues after the jump. (more…)
