Freehold Head Start Receives Donation from The Bridge of Books Foundation

This year, The Bridge of Books Foundation (“BoB”) commemorated Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America by donating nearly 20,000 books to at-risk children throughout New Jersey.  

The in Freehold was one of 7 locations where books were donated. Other locations included Keansburg School District and 5 additional Head Start Centers across Monmouth County, including, Keyport, Neptune, Howell, Red Bank, and Asbury. 

Read Across America is a very important time for BoB, said Abby Daly, director of the foundation. “As always, it is a great time of year and we are thrilled to have so many new and returning volunteer readers and to get so many books into the hands of so many kids in such a short period of time,” she said.

Each student had the opportunity to select 2-3 books to take home.

Of the nearly 20,000 books that were donated to at-risk children across New Jersey, 14,000 came as an overstock donation from North South Publishing.

BoB was also thrilled  to be able to purchase enough copies of It’s a Little Book by Lane Smith to send one home with each student. BoB was able to make this purchase thanks to a grant from The Charles Lafitte Foundation, created by Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron in 1999 to support innovative and effective ways of helping people help themselves.

BoB also carried on a yearly tradition of recruiting over 40 volunteers to read to nearly 500 students in pre-k through 4^th grades when delivering these books.

Kyra Citron, an 8^th grade student at , was a volunteer reader at the Freehold Head Start. Along with her parents and eight classmates, she spent an afternoon reading stories to the children and giving them books to take home.  

Citron, who is an avid reader and fan of BoB’s mission, said she
“was delighted to be part of this year’s Dr. Seuss celebration organized by Bridge of Books.”    

After 9 years of delivering books to young people in need, Daly said the need for books is strong. “I am still amazed at the level of need for children’s books in New Jersey such that we could turn around 14,000 books in nine days.  What this says to me is that our mission remains vital and that children need access to books 365 days a year.”

If you would like more information about Bridge of Books or want to learn how you can get involved, e-mail info@bridgeofbooksfoundation.org.