Did you know that 61 percent of low-income kids live with no children’s books in their home? Or that the average child growing up in a middle class family has been exposed to 1,700 hours of read-alouds, while children growing up in low-income families have only been exposed to 25 hours?
Love of Learning, a Richmond-based nonprofit is working to improve Richmond through literacy efforts for low-income children. The group has two main programs. “In our Read Aloud Program, our trained volunteers read high-quality, relevant books to kids living in shelters and affordable housing, and then give the books to the children and encourage parents to read aloud at home,” says Randy White with Love of Learning.
The second main program, the Book Club, encourages families to read by sending high-quality, age-appropriate books through the mail once a month to families assisted by social services organizations.
Recently, teachers at Ginter Park Elementary School and Lakeside Elementary won book grants and will claim books for their classroom reading programs. “We also have another $250 book grant to help teacher at Carver Elementary School.” In addition, White said Love of Learning is working to put a book in the hands of every student that attends Carver Elementary School.
Visit Love of Learning to find out more.
