First Book-Blair County announced today it is accepting book grant applications from local nonprofit programs serving children in need.
Teachers and directors of local preschools, day care, after-school, tutoring and mentoring programs are encouraged to apply on behalf of their programs.
First Book is a national nonprofit organization with a single mission, “to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.”
Across the country, advisory boards meet in order to bring together leaders within a community so that they can work to provide books to children in literacy programs, shelters for battered children, soup kitchens, after-school programs and other community-based programs for children living at or below the poverty line.
In the past three years, First Book has distributed over 20 million new books to children in need in hundreds of communities nationwide.
In Blair County, First Book has distributed books to programs serving low-income children since March 2004. First Book-Blair County has distributed more than 1,400 books to programs such as the Family Resource Center of Blair County and Home Nursing Agency WIC program. First Book-Blair County meets the third Wednesday of every month, although there will be no meeting in December.
According to a recent press release, in order to be eligible to receive a First Book grant, organizations are required to “incorporate reading as part of their program activities, serve children and families from low-income households, provide multiple distributions to each child in the program, and support the child’s ongoing education outside of the school classroom setting.”
“Each child will be provided with books throughout the year so that they can start their own home libraries and share with their families. They will also receive a bookplate on which to place their names celebrating book ownership,” said Michelle McIntyre, grant chair.
To request an application or make an inquiry, contact Michelle McIntyre at 814-224-2994. All grant applications, including documentation that shows 80 percent of children in the program are from low-income households and letters of support, must be submitted to Michelle McIntyre c/o Roaring Spring Library, 320 East Main Street, Roaring Spring, PA 16673. Applications are due by December 31, 2004.
Individuals interested in learning more, donating to First Book or lending a hand can also visit the website at www.firstbook.org.
