For several weeks now throughout the summer, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services has been providing children with free breakfast, lunch and recreational programming through its SummerFood Program. Now, with the help of community partners, those same children are being given the gift of reading.
Earlier this month, the county DHS began distributing new and gently used books that were collected during its first ever Book Drive to some of the children at its more than 80 SummerFood Program sites throughout the county. Thus far, children from 40 of its 82 sites have received books.
“We are thankful to all those who helped in the donation of more than 4,500 books which were delivered to select SummerFood program sites,” said Marc Cherna, county DHS director, in a press release. “Every child should have a book they can call their own, and this drive helps in that effort.”
Lynda Black, manager of the SummerFood Program, echoed Cherna’s sentiments and said, “I thought it (the Book Drive) was exciting because like I tell my children and grandchildren, ‘learn to read and read to learn.’ It’s a good idea that children get to read a lot, because they learn by reading.”
She also added that the event was special because it was an opportunity to do something extra with the children besides serving food and that she hopes the drive helps more children to get involved in reading and enjoy it.
The Book Drive included donations from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Library Association, the Pajama Program Pittsburgh and Western PA Chapter, and First Book Pittsburgh at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a host of individual donors. Together, approximately 4,500 books were collected.
Of the books collected, a large amount, more than 1,500, came from the Children’s Museum. Museum Marketing Director Bill Schlageter said, “This was an opportunity to reach out to hundreds of children, which for us, as a Children’s Museum, is an important thing because reading, not only from a recreational standpoint but from a learning point of view, is so important to the development of a child’s skills as they move through the education system and life.
“I hope (the children learn) the importance of a book and how it can be an enjoyable, learning experience.”
Not only was Schlageter proud of the Drive’s success at his location, but also the team effort that was put forth. According to him, a young man from Sewickley took the Drive on as a special project and collected more than 500 books alone and brought them to the museum. He also said a Museum employee collected 300 books in her own time and donated them.
Schlageter said the Museum decided to get involved in the Drive for a couple of reasons. One, it was around the time that they were building their new exhibit, “Very Eric Carle,” which celebrates the work of children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle, and they wanted to help reinforce the notion of the importance of reading; and two, they have successfully been collecting sweaters over the holidays for needy families, and wanted to assist in making this drive a success. Plus it was just a great project to support.
And the Book Drive was a success. Black said she sees the Book Drive becoming an annual event and Schlageter said he would be more than happy to partner with the DHS again.
On July 14, children from the Rankin Christian Center, one of the SummerFood Program sites, were just some of those fortunate to receive the books. The Center’s Youth Program Director Erin Brennan, said the kids were so excited to receive the books and said as soon as they picked them out they began to read them or share them with their friends.
“We try to strive for a well rounded education here at the Rankin Christian Center. We try to incorporate STEM activities and information literacy. We have story time, journaling and a library here that does have books,” said Brennan.
“But a lot of the kids just want to take home books or don’t have books at home or they don’t have the books they want. So just being able to bring home books and say, ‘this is mine and I can keep it and I can read it whenever I want,’ that really means a lot to them.”
Thirty-seven of the 48 kids Brennan has enrolled at her site were able to receive books; they each were able to take home two or three.
“We try to emphasize how important it is to get into reading and not just school reading, but to read the books you want to read,” she said.
“It’s one thing to have books at the library, it’s one thing to have books at the Center, it’s an entirely different thing to say, ‘hey, here’s a free book, you can have this.’ And that’s something they can keep with them forever.”
(For more information on the SummerFood Program or its locations, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/food.aspx.)
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