Submitted by Terri Hornbach-Torres, Chapter Community Service Director
As a small-town kid in a working-class family, I think my life would have turned out quite differently if I hadn’t had access to the local public library, especially in the summer. I was the kid whose nose was always buried in a book, and I didn’t have the means to buy many of my own. Those books made me a better writer, thinker and student, and broadened my world beyond my own little, rural community.
As communicators, we depend upon a literate society to process and act on the messages we send. This year, the Cincinnati chapter of PRSA will support literacy efforts in our own backyard with something that’s very simple but much needed – a book drive for Queen City Book Bank (QCBB) at our Media Day event on April 25. The goal is to get books into the hands of kids in underserved communities for them to enjoy during summer break.
We’re looking for gently used or new books for grades pre-K through 6. There is a critical need for books that include diverse characters and experiences. We’ll have a table set up for collection, and you’ll be eligible for a $20 Joseph Beth gift card by donating. Consider gathering books from your family, friends and coworkers, as well.
Please note: QCBB cannot accept adult books, magazines, textbooks, encyclopedias, coloring books or highly damaged books (e.g., torn pages, written in, ripped covers, or broken spines).
QCBB’s focus is getting the right books and resources to the children who need them most. Much of this is accomplished through area school districts, Little Free Libraries and other community partners.
Here’s a glance at just a few stats from QCBB on childhood literacy:
Children who do not read on level by the end of grade 3 have on a one-in-eight chance of ever catching up and are four times less likely to graduate from high school.
A child from a low-income family enters first grade with an average of only 25 hours of one-to-one picture book reading, compared to 1,000 to 1,700 hours for a child from a middle-income home.
In middle-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books per child is 13 to one. In poorer neighborhoods, the ratio is a staggering one book for every 300 children.
Bring the gift of a book to a child, and you help create a more literate society that benefits all of us. Any questions, contact me at terri@thtcommunications.com.