Next Door’s Books for Kids program was established in 1990 with the hope that all children in Milwaukee’s central city, regardless of family income or education levels, could have books to call their own. Books for Kids is based on the premise that children who have books of their own possess limitless opportunity.
Impact
Since its inception, the program has distributed more than 1,500,000 books in the Milwaukee area. Placing books into the hands of Milwaukee’s central city children is essential because:
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Low-income families have few children’s books in their homes.
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The number of books in a child’s home correlates significantly with reading achievement.
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The number of books available to a child plays a role in predicting first grade reading achievement .
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Reading ability is a strong predictor of success and interest in school.
By expanding the number and frequency of reading experiences Books for Kids inspires young people to develop an appreciation and love for books. As a result, Milwaukee children improve reading fundamentals, school preparedness, and their chances of achieving long-term academic success.
Volunteer Opportunities
Hundreds of individual volunteers and volunteer groups each year make Books for Kids possible. There are numerous ways you or your volunteer group can get involved:
United Way Reader/Tutor/Mentor Initiative- United Way of Greater Milwaukee, in partnership with Next Door Foundation and other non-profit agencies, is launching a new initiative to recruit 3,000 new volunteers in the city of Milwaukee as readers, tutors, and mentors. This opportunity is part of United Way's effort to mobilize one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors nationally to ensure more children graduate from high school. For more information, please visit http://www.unitedwaymilwaukee.org/ReaderTutorMentor .
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Read to children during “Read with Me”: Volunteer readers read in small groups of children ages 2-5 on Tuesdays 9-11 am, Tuesday afternoons from 1:30-3:30 pm and Wednesday mornings from 9-11 am.
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Assist in the “Giving Library”: Help us to clean, sort, label, and shelve our the thousands of children’s books so that they are ready for distribution.
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Hold a book drive: We always need new or gently used children’s books. A great opportunity for school groups, church groups, girl and boy scout troops, and corporate groups.
For more information about Books for Kids, please send us an email or call 414/562-2929 ext 109.
Collaboration
Books for Kids relies on financial gifts from local corporations, foundations and individuals. The program has received grant support from The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Fleck Foundation, Next Chapter Book Sellers, J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, Target Stores, Faye McBeath Foundation, Assurant Health, Proven Direct, Bessie A. & Harold M. Stratton Fund and Journal Communications, Inc.
Books for Kids also maintains active partnerships with many corporations, churches, and schools. Some current Books for Kids partnerships include: Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Northwestern Mutual, Baird, Rockwell, U.S. Bank, Fleck Foundation, CH2M Hill, Roundy's Foundation, Next Chapter Booksellers, Half Priced Books, Wauwatosa Village, Bayside Travel, Reformation Lutheran Church, Brown Deer Middle School, and the Volunteers of Lake Country.
Book Distribution
Every Thursday afternoon between 2:00 and 6:00 pm teachers and parents throughout the city of Milwaukee are invited to the ‘Giving Library” located within the Next Door Foundation to choose books for Milwaukee’s children. Parents and teachers can visit once per month and should bring their own bag for the books.
Donations
Books for Kids accepts new and gently used children’s books for all ages (babies-young adult) through individual donations and book drives throughout the entire year.
We are in need the following kinds of books:
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Baby Board Books
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Children’s Picture Books
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Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction
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Juvenile Literature
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Children’s Dictionaries and Cookbooks
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Children’s Books with Universal Themes (friendship, animals, science, etc.)
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Parenting Books
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Multicultural Children’s Books
We unfortunately cannot accept:
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textbooks of any kind
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withdrawn or discarded library books
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old books with mildew, torn pages, handwriting, or highlighting
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magazines
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encyclopedias or other reference books
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adult books
Contributors are invited to bring books to: Next Door Foundation, 2545 N. 29th St, Milwaukee, WI 53210.
Please contact the Books for Kids Coordinator to schedule a time to drop off your donation.