Wish List: Reading Foundation seeks books for summer reading program

It’s a nonprofit built around promoting literacy. So it’s no surprise that books take the top spot on the holiday wish list of The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia.

The group needs children’s books written in Spanish, as well as bilingual books written in both English and Spanish.

The foundation focuses on children from birth to third grade, so “picture books are awesome — any kind of picture book. And beginning chapter books are great,” said Vanessa Cruz, community program coordinator.

The books are for the foundation’s summer reading program, which last summer helped thousands of kids and families in the Mid-Columbia. The reading foundation worked with about two dozen other groups and agencies, from Head Start to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties, helping them host reading programs and providing them with books to give out.

“We got tremendous feedback from the program,” said Sara Schwan, the reading foundation’s executive director.

But it was paid for with a federal grant — money the local group won’t qualify for again for next year because some eligibility requirements changed.

So leaders are seeking out other funding sources and options for maintaining the program. Along with books, the foundation also has cash donations on its holiday wish list.

The reading foundation started in 1996. It has the mission of supporting families, schools and the community in fostering successful and proficient readers.

“Students who start in school behind — rarely do they catch up. Up to grade three, you’re learning to read. After that, you need to read in order to learn,” Schwan said.

The group’s programs range from READY! for Kindergarten, which includes training and tools for parents to help prepare their children to start school, to Team Read tutoring, in which volunteers work with struggling elementary school readers.

The summer reading program aims to help prevent the “summer slide” of losing some of the learning gained during the academic year once classes let out. “By reading a little bit over the summertime, you’re going to increase how much you retain and then you’re not starting school behind,” Schwan said.

To help the reading foundation, call 509-222-7323. More information: www.read20minutes.org.

This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 10:54 PM with the headline "Wish List: Reading Foundation seeks books for summer reading program."