The holidays have always been a time for warmth and family in my home. They have also always been a time for books. When I was young, my mom would take my sister and me to the bookstore each year once school got out for winter break. We each got to pick one book to read while we were out of school. I have been so lucky to have always had books in my life and it has shaped me into the person I am today. This is why I am a huge supporter of what literacy charities stand for.
Sometimes, I sit back and marvel at how cool it is that books exist. They are entire worlds that we can hold in the palm of our hands. it is pretty amazing.
And in recent years, books have gotten even cooler with the diversity in representation that they offer. This is especially true for the young adult genre. Young readers today have the opportunity to see themselves in the books they read. Books offer a safe space where young people can explore their thoughts and emotions before they experience them in the real world. It amazes me.
But you need to have access to books for this safe space to exist, and there are people who don’t. There are areas with a lack of resources for literacy. So when I start thinking about who I want to support with my money, I turn to literacy charities, along with others.
There are so many fantastic charities out there, but I wanted to highlight five that I think are doing fantastic things for literacy.
What do Literacy Charities Do?
There are a wide variety of different and unique literacy charities that focus on different things. But the one thing they all have in common is they promote literacy. Some may focus on youth while others on adult literacy, but they all want to create a world where everyone has access to all information through literacy.
Here are a couple of the highlights that literacy charities focus on:
- Getting books in the hands of those who need them
- Providing tutoring and education for literacy
- Promoting professional development through literacy
- Bringing in new technology that allows people better acces to reading material
- Training teachers on how to properly help students in literacy
How Can you Support Different Literacy Charities?
There are so many ways you can offer support to charities, and it doesn’t always require you to spend money.
- Voluneer
- Donate
- Tell your friends and family
- Start programs in your own town
There are so many ways to help organizations like this. Most of their websites have all the information you need, so give it a look! Find the tab called “donate” or “help us” to learn more. You might find something you can do, even if it is just posting about it on Twitter.
Literacy Charities to Support
1. Children’s Literacy Initiative
Website: Children’s Literacy Initiative
Their goal: Provide students with resources and books, and provide teachers with coaching and training in order to begin the process of eliminating structural racism in schools. They focus on providing for Black and Latinx children.
What they do: The Children’s Literacy Initiative starts at the bottom because they know that is where change begins. They know that working with children in schools is step one to fixing the injustices in the world. To do this, they start with the teachers, coaching them on how to teach anti-racism. They also use the most up-to-date pedagogical practices in teaching children to read.
Donate here!
2. Ferst Reads
Website: Ferst Reads
Their goal: Ferst Reads works to provide the materials necessary for young children to learn to read and learn to enjoy reading. They get books in the hands of kids who need them.
What they do: This organization saw that some children were entering school without the head start that reading at a young age offers them. So in a move to fix this, they send every child in their program new, age-appropriate reading material to their home every month until their fifth birthday.
Donate here!
Volunteer information here!
3. World Literacy Foundation
Website: World Literacy Foundation
Their goal: This organization strives to provide literacy materials, education, and materials to everyone in the world, no matter where they are.
What they do: Provide books to families and children in various countries, provide support for literacy education to disadvantaged youth, provide new literary technology such as e-books to people without access to physical books, collaborate with multiple world leaders on forming ideas for change, and work with parents on supporting their kids.
Donate here!
Volunteer information here!
4. Literacy for Incarcerated Teens
Website: Literacy for Incarcerated Teens
Their goal: The founders of this literacy charity saw that while reading was encouraged for incarcerated youth, they did not have access to libraries of reading materials and resources. They want to fix that.
What they do: Provide reading material to incarcerated young adult readers from 8-17, organize author visits for young readers where they receive a personal copy of the author’s book, and provide programs for incarcerated teens that promotes literacy.
Donate here!
5. Proliteracy
Website: Proliteracy
Their goal: Proliteracy provides literacy education to the adults of America. They believe that a stronger society starts with an educated people.
What they do: They provide education for adults in literacy, give resources to those who need them, give programs in professional development, and provide instructional materials to learners and tutors.
Donate here!
Like I said, there are way too many literacy charities than what I could include in this list, and they are making huge strides to ensure every child has equal opportunity in education and access to resources and books.
The ones I have listed have done some astounding things, and I believe in the work they are doing, which is why I wanted to give them a little shout-out.
If you are in the position to donate this winter season, think about giving to these charities. For the love of reading!
Thanks!
2 thoughts on “5 Literacy Charities Every Book Lover Should Support This Holiday Season”