Help us give the gift of literacy this Christmas season! Our annual Books for Baton Rouge Holiday Book Drive provides books for children in need in the Baton Rouge area.
Baton Rouge Moms has partnered with K-Love Baton Rouge and Alexander’s Highland Market for a Books for Baton Rouge Holiday Book Drive event on December 21st. We will be at Alexander’s Highland Market from 10am to 1pm collecting new and gently used books for the first annual Books for Baton Rouge Holiday Book Drive! K-LOVE Radio will join us to host games and prizes for the children!
A few startling statistics on literacy:
- In some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the country there is only one book available for every 300 children
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 61% of low-income American families do not own any age-appropriate books for their children.
- Thirty-seven percent of all fourth grade children in the United States are reading below basic levels.
- Low literacy is strongly related to crime. 85 percent of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally literate.
- Low literacy is strongly related to unemployment. More than 20% of adults read at or below a fifth grade level – far below the level needed to earn a living wage.
Give the gift of literacy this Christmas and donate books for children in need in Baton Rouge and beyond!
We hope to see you at Alexander’s on the 21st but if you can’t make it, books can be dropped off at Alexander’s Highland Market during regular business hours, look for the large wrapped box with a large red bow!