Kids’ Book Bank is the little children’s book charity in Cleveland, Ohio making big waves. After running out of books to fill the local Little Free Libraries, they got creative. In 2015 two volunteer leaders made a serendipitous phone call to an online used book seller asking for help. Soon 40,000 books arrived, and Kids’ Book Bank was born. For the last eight years, they’ve dedicated themselves to diminishing book deserts and getting books in the hands of children city-wide.

“We provide gently used books to partners who serve children in low-income neighborhoods in Greater Cleveland where there are barriers to book access and ownership,” explains Leslie FitzSimmons, Communications Manager, Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank. Through the partnerships they’ve developed with suppliers, donors, and distributors, children now have a chance to choose and own books that appeal to them. Half of the books funneled through the charity are distributed to schools, preschools, and daycares, while others are shared via non-profit partners and home visiting groups including Bright Beginnings, Family Connections, and the Centers of Families and Children, among others.

Their impact has not only fueled literacy but it builds bonds within the communities and the families they serve.

“One of our home visiting partners took books to a new family where the little boy fell in love with the book The Little Blue Truck,” explains Leslie. “He took it with him everywhere. When his mom brought his little sister home from the hospital, the little boy brought his book over to her to ‘read’ to her by showing her the pictures and telling her the story.”

Diversity is important in their efforts. Though the Kids’ Book Bank seeks resources that mirror their little readers, this has been a challenge.

“84% of the children who receive our books are Black or Latinx, but only 4% of the books we get donated feature non-white characters,” says Leslie. “Our Books Like Me campaign raises funds to purchase racially and culturally diverse books to help bridge this gap. We also highlight authors of color, particularly local authors, and support them by purchasing books from them. We are working to increase awareness around the need for diverse books in our community.”

While owning books is commonplace in many American households, most families in low-income don’t have that luxury. “We want everyone to be aware that owning books and reading to children, especially ages 0-5, is one of the most important and impactful things we can do to help children be successful academically,” says Leslie. She explains that there are fewer than a dozen children’s book banks across the country, not enough to serve all those in need. Therefore, it’s important to feed this need with books.

“Cleveland, unfortunately, has the highest child poverty rate in the country,” explains Leslie. “The research shows that children in poverty are more likely to have low reading test scores in third grade and are less likely to graduate from high school at any reading skill level. Our work can make a generational shift in literacy in Cleveland by providing free books to families to build their home libraries and make reading a part of their daily routine.”

The Kids’ Book Bank in Cleveland accepts books and donations from across the country. Anyone interested in getting involved can donate directly or donate books from their Amazon Wishlist. While it’s important to make physical and financial donations, spreading the word about this, and similar programs, is also a critical part of making a difference.

Connect with Kids’ Book Bank and help them drive awareness through their social media efforts.

Images Courtesy of Kids’ Book Bank.