December Newsletter

A note from Jennifer

Unlike many of you I remember learning to read. I came late to the game, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. I was transformed. It was like magic. I performed better in school because I understood what to do and when, but the real magic happened when I could curl up with a book and explore and experience all the worlds books had to offer.

As we move into winter in these strange and sometimes scary times, I think back on what reading meant and means to me and am so grateful that I am part of an organization that brings the magic of books and reading to so many of our region’s children. Thank you for partnering with us to give all our children the gift of literacy!

Happy holidays & happy reading!

Jennifer W. Forster, Executive Director

Ways to give the gift of literacy this season

Especially during the isolation of extended school closures, your generous gift connects kids with books and helps families enjoy reading together every day so all children reach their full potential.

Honor a loved one with a donation in their name!
Shop our wish lists at Browsers, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.
Gift a book at Olympia Barnes & Noble’s Holiday Book Drive.
Donate gently used children’s books to our Thanks-for-Giving Book Drive.

Gifts of all sizes help us give books to kids and are greatly appreciated. We also realize these are challenging times and not everyone can make a gift at this time.

Partner Spotlight: Family Education & Support Services

Our friends at Family Education and Support Services recently launched a new parenting podcast, The Parental Compass with Bobby Williams, to provide all parents with access to the evidence-based parenting information, ideas and on-the-ground resources. It is Family Education & Support Services goal to help parents build the skills, tools and confidence they need to be the best parents they can be. We love it!! Be sure to check out this great resource. We've also posted a link on our 'Reading Tips for Parents' webpage.

Giving Thanks for Give Local!

We're so grateful to Dawkins Charitable Trust, the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, and the 35+ supporters who helped us kick off our year-end appeal with $4436 in donations!

If you participated - thank you! We'd love your feedback to help improve GiveLocal. Please complete this donor experience survey.

Deliveries, deliveries, deliveries! Throughout Thurston and into Mason counties, AmeriCorps members are temporarily handling deliveries typically done by our dedicated volunteers. Since we aren’t currently going to many meal sites, these deliveries are one of the only ways we’ve been able to get books to kiddos and families. Not only that, but our members are also safely collecting Thanks-For-Giving book drive donations. Our AmeriCorps have been all over the place in the past few weeks!

Volunteer Connections

Volunteers donated 45 hours of service in the month of November, a gift worth $1246.50! Once again, we must thank all our amazing volunteers for their patience and kindness as we adapt to changing COVID-19 guidelines. We miss you, volunteers, and we can’t wait to have you back in our office once it’s safe to have you here in the New Year! Until then, stay safe and healthy.

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

Supporter & Sponsor Spotlight

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

The UPS Store-Tumwater & Toys for Tots Literacy Program donated a pallet of books worth $2000!
Community Foundation of South Puget Sound & Vannerson Family Endowed Fund
Dawkins Charitable Trust
The Daniel V. and Ida J. McEachern Charitable Trust
Thurston Strong Coalition - providing resources and support to improve the resilience of local businesses and nonprofits throughout the pandemic.
Gateway Rotary for donating 600 new books and funds to purchase 350+ more!
Strait Family Foundation
Washington State Combined Fund Drive participants
Our 2020 financial and in-kind sponsors:

Interested in becoming a sponsor? 2021 sponsorship opportunities available now! Contact Amanda for details.