Transform Rockford is pleased to announce it hand-delivered more than 3,000 children’s books to local students throughout the region this week, surpassing its original goal of 2,000 books. This was all part of the first annual community-wide holiday book drive which took place November 19 through December 7. Community members, businesses and local organizations rallied together and donated new and mint-condition books from infancy through pre-K level, with the goal of bridging the winter break reading gap and putting books in the hands of young students enrolled in early childhood education programs.
“We are so pleased with how our first annual book drive turned out and it’s all thanks to our great community,” said Transform Rockford Executive Director David Sidney. “This is one way Transform Rockford is committed to growing our culture of learning and supporting our students and families.”
More than 60 volunteers helped wrap the books and several Transform Rockford Steering Committee members, residents and police officers hand delivered the books to students enrolled at Summerdale Early Childhood Center, Dennis Early Childhood Center and Kishwaukee Elementary School in Rockford, Donald C. Parker Early Education Center in Machesney Park, Washington Academy pre-K program & Lincoln Elementary School pre-K program in Belvidere, Caledonia Elementary School pre-K program and various day care centers throughout the region.
“It truly felt like the entire region came together on this book drive,” said Transform Rockford Steering Committee Chair Bobbie Holzwarth. “Boxes and boxes of books were donated, residents and business leaders came together to wrap books & hand-out the books, and thousands of local students were overjoyed to receive their very own book. It was a huge success!”
To learn more about Transform Rockford and other initiatives that are taking place, contact Strategy & Communications Manager Katryna Kirby at (815) 977-5840 or katryna@transformrockford.org.
About Transform Rockford
Transform Rockford’s mission is to facilitate the creation and implementation of a strategic plan by the community for the purposes of dramatically improving the social and economic well-being of the community and its residents. The goal is to get on path to becoming a Top 25 community where residents are engaged, inspired and are leading successful and fulfilling lives.