With the world being a difficult place for those of any marginalized background, one of the things those of us who are looking to do something can do is donate to those in need. Thousands of teachers each year ask for a little help with seeking supplies for their classrooms via Donors Choose; organizations that do work with at-risk communities like prison populations seek spare change to advocate for and bring literacy to those groups; and nonprofits that provide necessary resources to empower women and people of color are always hoping for a few bucks to make their vital work possible.
Enter: Friday Fund Days.
Book Riot readers have helped fund hundreds of classrooms over the last few years, and we’ll help bring funds to hundreds more. Each Friday, we’ll highlight two classrooms or other literacy-focused, important projects in hopes you’ll help them reach their goals to bring literature, advocacy, and education to others.
Even if you can’t spare money, any social sharing you can offer to the projects each week absolutely helps: you never know who’ll find it and have the means by which to make the project’s fundraising goals reached. More, you’ll bring awareness to the unmet needs in communities around the world, as well as right in your own back yard.
When all else feels hard or hopeless, remember that you can and do make a difference.
This Week’s Projects
1. Books Readers Want, Milwaukee, Wisconsin ($719)
The Project
“How are my students going to learn to love reading if they can’t find a book they even want to open? This project will help give students a broader option of books to choose from when they have free reading time.
If my students don’t read more, they will continue to struggle with writing and discussing important issues in our city, country and world.
These concepts are all connected and are very important for young people to develop. My students need books to read that show characters that look like them, talk like them and experience similar hardships and success. Help give them the foundation they need!”
Almost all of the students attending this school come from low-income households; they all qualify for free breakfast and lunch. Ms. Korotev is requesting funding to purchase books such as On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, and There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon.
Click here to donate to Ms. Korotev’s classroom.
2. Spark Imagination Through Reading, Providence, Rhode Island ($262)
The Project
“This book library will spark imagination by adding more contemporary and interesting books to our small and dated collection. These books are also available in languages that my bilingual students can access and come in a variety of topics that will interest these curious learners.
The books I have chosen have characters that many of my students will be able to empathize with due to similar experiences.
I want students to enjoy reading and begin a lifelong relationship with books, so adding titles that they are able to relate to and are interested in will be essential in order to begin that relationship.”
Nearly all the students in this classroom are from low-income households. Because they are bilingual, their teacher, Ms. Tera, is requesting books in both Spanish and English. Some of the titles include La Casa en Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, and Who Was Frida Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny.
Click here to donate to Ms. Tera’s classroom.
The lives of students can be impacted by your generosity; donating to or simply sharing their classroom needs on social media can make such a huge difference. Thank you for being part of their learning journey.