Children's Book Drive Goals In Skokie School District

From the Niles Township Government:

Not many people need to be convinced of the importance of books in the lives of children. (For anyone who does, however, the National Children’s Book and Literary Alliance provides nearly a couple dozen reasons right off the bat. https://thencbla.org/advocacy/why-do-kids-need-books/).

Niles Township Government has been one of the largest collection sites in the area for Bernie’s Book Bank for some time. If you donate new and gently used books for a special book drive (through April 15), you’ll be helping children in need receive books that are so crucial to their development and well being.

That’s why Niles Township collects books for Bernie’s all year long and considers these book drives among its major projects.

Two out of three low-income children have no books of their own,” according to data from Bernie’s Book Bank. The non-profit Bernie’s is the largest provider of quality children’s books and provides children with 12 books per year for 12 years.

Since 2009, it has distributed nearly 17.4 million books to under-served children. Some 275,000 children have received books in the Chicago area.

The mission of Bernie’s Book Bank is to source, processes and distribute quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among under-served infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout the Chicago area.

How You Can Help

Niles Township is accepting new and gently used books for children through sixth grade at its office at 5255 Lincoln Ave., Skokie.The Township is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Our goal is to collect 2,000 books by the middle of April.

Different organizations including schools and libraries have helped us out with their own book drives over the years. Skokie School District 73.5 is currently holding a book drive during the first few weeks of March in connection with our efforts.

If you’re interested in holding your own book drive or need more information about Bernie’s Book Bank, shoot an email to Mike Isaacs at misaacs@nilestowenshipgov.com or visit berniesbookbank.org.

We’ll help you out in any way we can including providing publicity. Or just drop off books on your own. We have bins just waiting for your donation. These books will go such a long way in helping children in need and could very well open up a bright new chapter in their lives.

This press release was produced by the Niles Township Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.