BOX ELDER and CACHE COUNTIES–More than 5,000 books found their way into the hands of local children this summer, due to a collaborative community effort led by United Way of Northern Utah. The effort was to combat summer learning loss and expand access to reading.
Studies show kids who read during the summer months will have a jump on thier studies when school starts.
United Way of Northern Utah and 18 community partners distributed 5,183 books during the free summer lunch programs to nine different schools in Box Elder and Cache Counties. The initiative took 270 volunteer hours to make it happen.
The free book program was designed to address the “summer slide”—the loss of academic skills that can occur when students are out of school—as well as the lack of library card access in some rural and underserved areas.
Oxford Learning studies showed summer reading helps children maintain and even improve their literacy skills. The summer slide is a phenomenon where students lose some of the achievement gains, they made during the school year or the in other words the loss of academic skills and knowledge over the summer month.
Nearly half of parents are unaware of this phenomenon, yet it has a significant impact on student success.
Despite the benefits of summer reading, the number of children who do not read any books over the summer may not have access to books is a significant issue, especially for underserved communities.
One report found that 53% of children get most of their books from school, so when schools are closed, access to books decreases dramatically.
By providing free, high-quality books directly to children, it gives students an opportunity to continue reading and learning during the summer months.
“When you put books into children’s hands—books they can keep—you give them more than a story. You give them a chance to build skills, confidence, and a love of reading that will last a lifetime,” said Heather Crockett, Community Engagement Director. “This project shows what’s possible when a community comes together for its kids.”
Local schools, nonprofits, service organizations, and volunteers all believed helping kids with literacy were involved in the book distribution. Everyone involved played a role in collecting, sorting, and distributing books, transforming lunch lines into opportunities for learning and imagination.
Organizers say they hope to expand the program next summer, reaching even more children and addressing barriers to literacy throughout the counties.
For more information about the program or to learn how you can get involved next year, contact Heather Crockett, hcrockett@uwnu.org.