Since 2006 Books To Kids volunteers have distributed free, high-quality books to disadvantaged children on the Gulf Coast. A target of 25,000 books will be distributed in 2012, which would bring the grand total to more than 105,000 books distributed to schools, families and community centers and libraries since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
This project was started by Nashville Tennessee resident Jim Selin, who had assisted Plenty in relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Jim saw first hand the devastation experienced by families in New Orleans.
He believed that the gift of books was a way to help children move beyond this trauma, cope with the difficulties of living in recovering, economically challenged neighborhoods, and ultimately to increase their academic success.
Books To Kids promotes the future success of disadvantaged youth by providing them with two crucial leadership and growth skills – literacy and love of reading. With these skills, children are better equipped to make informed life choices. Books to Kids focuses on the ages between 6 and 11 years because these are the years when a child’s literacy can have its most powerful effect on the child as well as their whole family.
Thirty four percent of the children in New Orleans live in poverty; the national average is 20%. (Source: Annie Casey Foundation Kids Count 2011). Poverty and early stress impact not only a child’s day-to-day life, but the choices and opportunities she or he has for lifetime happiness and success.
Most of the children served by Books To Kids live below the poverty level with the vast majority on the free or reduced lunch program at school. In short we strive to reach those in greatest need. About 5000 kids are served annually by the program.
| Book acquisition operates year round. About a dozen all-volunteer staff help with various tasks. |
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Use the BTK guidelines regarding illustrations, language, and content, and acquire quality books from libraries, individual families, and thrift and used book stores that give us discounts and donations to reduce costs.
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Process, box and label books for distribution.
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Transport the books to New Orleans by pick up truck with an attached trailer.
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Distribute books to community partners such as schools and community centers, which distribute the free reading materials directly to children.
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“Many of our students lost all of the books they accumulated over the years in the flood waters after Hurricane Katrina. You can imagine how excited they were to see all of the books delivered to our school.” – Susan G. Hughes, Librarian, Drew Elementary School, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans. 
Jim Selin, founder, Books To Kids
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About five distribution runs to the Gulf take place annually. Current Gulf coast distribution sites include
- the Arise Academy
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library and School
- the Lower Ninth Ward Community Center
- Boothville-Venice Elementary School,
- Arabi Community Center,
- Point Aux Chenes Elementary School
- Oaklawn Junior High School (Houma)
- Gulfport Summer Camp Program
- Isle de Jean Charles children
- St. Gabriel Mercy Center in Mound Bayou MS.
In August 2011 the Abney Elementary School in Slidell LA, with 1100 students, was added.
At least six sites receive books during each distribution.
Research has demonstrated the correlation between the number of books in a child’s home and academic success.
This is why the majority of Books To Kids books, while distributed in schools, are destined for students’ homes, to be shared with family and friends.
Some books are donated to school libraries and some are used in accelerated reading programs.
Books to Kids founder Jim Selin also works with Plenty volunteer Elaine Langley for the annual Holiday Toy Drive for children of the Gulf region.
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Maria Prout, Principal of Boothville-Venice Elementary School.
“The most powerful part of what Plenty has done is that we have kids who own books for the first time in their lives.
Plenty has been able to do that for children...to actually put books in their hands, in their homes.
These are books that parents don’t have to worry about getting lost or not getting returned to the library on time.
The scary thing for us is a storm could take your book. For the children to be able keep the books at home...it’s been a major change." |
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