Newsletter

A note from Jennifer

Gratitude: this time of year we are reminded of all we must be grateful for and I am grateful for so many things. Books by the Bay, our 2020 Virtual Literary Celebration, was a success and I am grateful for all those who made it happen and those who participated. I'm also grateful for my ability to curl up with a good book and read. Reading is not just a skill, it's a precious gift. Our Annual Campaign and our Thanks for Giving Book Drive both begin in November and they allow us to bring the joy and promise of books and reading to our region's children. Learn more about our work or introduce others by viewing and sharing our new 'get to know us' video:

I am grateful to be a part of such an important and dedicated organization, and to all of you who support us. Happy Reading! 

Grand Slam Book Drive at School Meal Sites this month

Because so many kiddos are learning virtually for the time being, we can’t really hold Grand Slam Book Drive like we normally would this year, with kiddos bringing book donations to their schools to be delivered to the SSRF office, we’ve decided to include the Book Drive with meal sites. As our AmeriCorps members visit different meal sites over the month of November, we will also encourage families to bring their donations when they come to pick up their meals and books, and then our members will bring them back to the SSRF office so they can be counted and included in our inventory. So, remember to bring your book donations when you come to pick up your lunch and your books! Contact us at read2me@nthurston.k12.wa.us to learn more! 

Holiday Book Drive Benefits South Sound Reading Foundation

Barnes & Noble's annual book drive runs November-December and brings in thousands of new books that we share with the children in our region who need them most. When you're shopping this holiday season be sure to stop by Olympia’s Barnes and Noble and buy a book or two for the drive. Not sure what book to get? Take a peek at our Barnes and Noble wish list.

Give Local – Celebrate Community Giving Nov 9-20 

Give Local is a two-week online giving campaign to support nonprofits across Thurston, Mason, and Lewis Counties. Make a gift at spsgives.org to boost the value of your donation to South Sound Reading Foundation thanks to Give Local’s bonus fund! Give where you live and help support community efforts as we continue to work together to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. 

AmeriCorps Activities: Virtual Story Times Coming Soon!

Since we can’t currently hold face-to-face story times in our office, we’ve decided to take our story times to the internet. Starting in early November, we will be posting monthly story time videos to our new YouTube channel for kiddos and their parents to watch together. These videos will include stories being read aloud, parenting pointers for parents to get their kiddos excited about reading, and simple STEM activities kiddos can do at home, and much more. Tune into our YouTube channel in early November to check it out!

Volunteer Connections: Delivery Drivers Needed!

SSRF volunteers served a total of 105 hours in October, a gift worth $2908.50! As always, we thank our volunteers for their dedication and incredible work! We would especially like to shout out the volunteers who not only donate their time, but their vehicles when they drive out and deliver book donations to different locations on Wednesdays. 

And as luck would have it, we need new drivers as well! Drivers donate about 2 hours of their time per month depending on where they are delivering. We are asking for drivers to assist in deliveries spanning across Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties. Drivers will select one day per month that they'd like to deliver, arrive to pick-up their orders between 9am-1pm, and try to have all deliveries made by 3pm the same day. For more info contact read2me@nthurston.k12.wa.us. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it weren’t for these delivery drivers, so thank you to all who do so! 

Check out our online calendar for upcoming volunteer events and contact read2me@nthurston.k12.wa.us for more information. 

Partners & Supporters Make Books by the Bay Sasquatch to Salish Sea a Success

From those who worked endlessly behind the scenes, to the featured authors, to all the amazing people who donated and participated in the auction - your support raised over $20,000! This essential funding will purchase new books, equipment, and much more. We’re especially grateful to our authors and event partners: Max Brooks, David Workman and Brian Walsh, Browsers Bookshop, Mountaineers, We Are Puget Sound, OLYARTS, Thurston Community Media, Childcare Action Council, Graphic Communications, and EventSupport.  

Visit www.southsoundreading.org/events/books-by-the-bay/ to order books or view recordings. 

Sponsor & Funder Spotlight

Many thanks to these generous community businesses and organizations whose support is helping families enjoy reading together every day so all children can reach their full potential: 

• Humanities WA & National Endowment for the Humanities – CARES Act Humanities Relief Grant 
• Multicare – Community Partnership Fund 
• Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry – Sponsoring Book Van visits to area meal sites 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? 2021 sponsorship opportunities are coming soon! Contact Amanda for details.