United Way Children’s Book Drive, statewide

Collection Sites across the State, United Way’s Children’s Book Drive Runs through May 25

In partnership with Women United and Books Are Wings, effort is one of Rhode Island’s largest annual book collections

With collection sites conveniently located throughout the state, United Way of Rhode Island is encouraging everyone across the Ocean State to participate in its annual Children’s Book Drive. The effort runs through May 25 and is held in partnership with Women United and Books Are Wings, with all of the books collected benefiting Books Are Wings initiatives and summer learning programs statewide. 

New and gently used books for children – from babies to middle school – are welcome, and may be dropped off at any of a number of community collection sites. Rhode Islanders are also invited to host a drive with family, friends, or coworkers, or participate virtually. Books Are Wings has curated a list of needed titles and created an online Amazon Wish List, which allows for purchased books to be shipped directly to the organization.

This is the 10^th year of United Way’s Children’s Book Drive, which has led to 245,766 books since inception. It is strategically timed to end prior to the start of summer learning programs so collected books may be distributed to kids to read during school vacation. Reading when school is out of session and participating in summer learning helps students, particularly those from low-income families, avoid summer learning loss. This is important as research shows children not proficient in reading by grade 3 are four times less likely to graduate from high school than proficient readers.

During elementary school, summer learning loss accounts for two-thirds of the achievement gap in reading between lower- and middle-class families. 

The following are community collection sites for this year’s Children’s Book Drive:

Statewide/Regional

·         Centreville Bank: branch locations

·         Pawtucket Credit Union: branch locations

·         Shaw’s: market locations

·         Washington Trust: branch locations

·         Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses: West Warwick, South Attleboro, and Swansea

East Providence: Public Library: 41 Grove Avenue

Pawtucket: Books Are Wings: 1005 Main Street #711B

Providence: United Way of RI: 50 Valley Street

Westerly: Savoy Bookshop and Café: 10 Canal Street