How You Can Help

Imagine growing up in a home without books. For too many children in Middle Tennessee, it’s a way of life.  Families that are struggling to survive economically cannot encourage their children's literacy by purchasing books. It’s also true that many parents in low-income families do not read well themselves ... or may not be able to read at all.  

At Book’em, we believe that every child needs books of his or her own, in addition to the books they have access to at school or in the local library.  Developing a love of books and reading is an important first step for a child to develop a love of learning in general. And when a child loves to learn, opportunities greatly increase.  

Books, to the reading child, are so much more than books -- they are dreams and knowledge,
they are a future, and a past . -- Esther Meynell 

60% of low-income families have no books in their homes. -- Department of Education 

How Can You Help? 

• Read to a child.
• Become a reading role model volunteer.
• Organize a book drive with your congregation, work, or club, and through birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
• Make a financial donation.
• Convince your congregation, company, club, etc. to adopt a school for Read Me Week.
• Share your love of reading with others.

Ready for Reading places reading volunteers in community preschools focusing on children in low-income areas.  These reading role models read with small groups of preschoolers once a week. 

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) places volunteers in Title I elementary schools in Davidson County providing readers and books to these children five times throughout the school year. 

The Dorothy Goldstein Library Without Walls provides books to children from birth through high school without many books of their own.  link to Give Books page 

Read Me Week is an annual event highlighting the importance and fun of reading.