With the decline of book sales, and fears of losing readers to other media, it’s important for the publishing industry to help foster new readers. Get ’em hooked while they’re young and they’ll be readers for life.
Mary, a First Book volunteer in Collier County, Florida received a call from a friend of hers who works for the local Habitat for Humanity and had just seen something she’d never before witnessed.
A mother and her son came in to the regional Habitat for Humanity office to purchase furniture for their new home. Instead of asking for a chair or table, though, the mother asked for a bookshelf for her little boy.
Mary’s friend was stunned. In all her years at Habitat for Humanity’s Collier County office, she had never seen or heard anyone ask for a bookshelf. As it turned out the young man is in a First Book program and proudly reported to Mary’s friend that he had received at least two dozen new books from First Book. For the first time, he needed his very own bookshelf.
Only 14 days remain in First Book’s matching grant book drive with the eBay Foundation which has put up $333,333 in seed money. If you’re interested in donating, click here.