Children who read well tend to succeed in school.

In that light, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region is leading an effort to collect 10,000 donated new or gently used children’s books and get them in the hands of kids across the region.

According to Matt Lynn, Vice President for Community Impact at UWBCKR, the ability to read at a young age sets the stage for academic success.

“Through third grade, kids are learning to read. After that, they’re reading to learn,” said Matt Lynn, Vice President of Community Impact for UWBCKR. “If a child can’t read by the end of third grade, he or she is far more likely to drop out before graduation. But also we know that children who have access to an array of diverse, interesting books are more likely to read and succeed.”

Businesses, schools and nonprofits across the region are taking part in the United Way Book Drive, which runs Aug. 1-15. United Way seeks donations of new or gently used, age-appropriate books for readers in kindergarten through 3rd grade.

UWBCKR is partnering with schools and child-focused agencies to distribute the books. If you’re an agency or organization that serves children and would like to receive books, please email getinvolved@uwbckr.org.

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Here’s how you can join us!

Donate Books: New or gently used books can be dropped off at the following locations:

• UWBCKR offices at 34 W. Jackson St. in Battle Creek, and 709 S. Westnedge Ave. in Kalamazoo.
• All Kellogg Community Credit Union locations.

Donate Dollars: If you prefer to donate online, we have options!

• Visit our Amazon Wish List to choose a book and have it shipped directly to United Way. Click Here for the list.
• Contribute money to buy books. Click HERE to donate online, or text BOOKDRIVE4KIDS to 41444 for the link.

Volunteer: Help us count, sort and sticker book donations on Aug. 17 or 21.

• Click HERE to see available shifts and sign up.

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The United Way Children’s Book Drive connects to UWBCKR’s impact goal in Education—improving high school graduation rates region-wide to 83 percent by 2030, and addressing economic and racial disparities that affect those rates.

Thank you to our Book Drive sponsors: Kellogg Community Credit Union, CSM Group, Landscape Forms, Two Men and a Truck, and Townsquare Media (including WBCK and WKFR).

For more information, send an email to getinvolved@uwbckr.org.