We’re delighted Caitlin Garcia, a rising senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, is serving as our media and marketing intern this summer. Caitlin wanted to explore the nonprofit sector in her internship for her Journalism/Public Relations major, and finds the Children’s Book Project is “a great place to work for the good of the public.” When she began her internship in June, Caitlin was shocked to learn that literacy rates of children who lack of access to enough — or any — books of their own lag so far behind better resourced children. Caitlin loves when new clients visit the Book Bank: “They’re so surprised and happy with what we have to offer, and so excited because they’ll be able to give great books to the kids they work with.”

It’s Back-to-School season at the Book Bank, and our shelves are full of beautiful books for children ages 0–18. Our wonderful supporters donate books and run book drives all year round so we can keep engaging, free books flowing to the kids who need them most. So far this year, our dedicated team of volunteers and staff have counted and sorted more than 85,000 donated children’s books, and shelved them in our airy and welcoming Book Bank so clients can easily select just the right books for the children they serve.

Studies show that learning outcomes for many students have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, but kids who have access to appealing books of their own — as well as in the classroom — are more likely to read for fun and thrive. So come on in to the Book Bank to Give Books, Get Books, and Volunteer so all children have access to the books they need for equity in literacy, learning, and life!