Got books? We sure do! As summer nears, we are in the process of distributing books to schools, food pantries, shelters, and even directly to children in need. Our current inventory is over 2,500 books. We believe that children deserve the opportunity to own at least one new book of their own. Up With books, inc. is a non-profit corporation started by two high school students. They saw that while there were many groups that provides assistance for basic needs, there was a not much in providing educational needs. Wanting to share their love of reading, Up With Books was born. Access to books is the first step. This should not be considered a luxury, but a necessity. Statistics show that there are significant gaps in reading achievement by race and income. These children start at a disadvantage and are usually behind their peers in reading proficiency. Few are able to catch up. More than 7,000 students drop out of school every day. Although this number has been decreasing in recent years, it is still a staggering statistic. Sixty-one percent of low income families have no books at all in their homes. Two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare. More than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade due to reading problems. Without a high school diploma, their earning potential will be limited. Summer is a time when students often fall behind, as they risk losing the learning they obtained during the school year. Unfortunately, this is more true for low-income families. More than 80% of children from economically disadvantaged communities lose reading skills over the summer months because they lack access to books and are not likely to have opportunities to visit libraries. Students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch up. Over time, the summer learning slide can add up to three years of reading loss by the end of fifth grade. By providing children with books, we are hoping to also provide them with the desire to read more, learn more, and to break out of the cycle of poverty. By achieving at least a high degree, they will be able to find careers where they can earn enough to be over the poverty rate. One way to do this is by assisting these families with books. The joy a book brings to a child is immeasurable. Opening a book can be opening a whole world where the possibilities are endless. Help us spread the word to bring the joy of reading to all children. If you know of a family or organization that could benefit from our services, please use the contact form at the bottom of the page. Happy reading....
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