Posted October 2nd 2009 at 6:11 pm by Mara @ What's For Dinner?
This is not my usual food-based Friday night post… partially because I haven’t eaten yet and don’t know when I’ll be hungry, but mostly because I’m using tonight’s post to enlist your help.
I’m not a runner, nor a competitive walker, nor a cyclist, so I haven’t asked for donations for races or TnT. I am, however, a teacher, and though I teach a rather “alternative” subject (Spanish), as a teacher, my mission is the same as any other: to educate youth.
Most of us were fortunate enough to grow up in areas where money for textbooks and reading books was, if not plentiful, at least existent. There are people all over the world who do not have that luxury. A coworker of mine, Mal Keenan, spent time in Lusaka, Zambia, spending time with orphaned children, visiting schools, and promoting literacy. How did she do this? She shipped four large boxes of books to Lusaka before her arrival, and realized during her time there that books are sorely needed.
That’s Mal on the right
Upon returning to Illinois, Mal founded the A to Z Literacy Movement with a 2010 goal of sending an entire shipping container full of books (think semi truck size) to Shine Reading Academy and Calvary Baptist School in Zambia. She’s asked for our staff and students’ help to donate gently used or new books to a collection center at the front of our school.
Why am I telling you this?
You too can help!
Most of us have gently used books laying around the house, and for the cost of a pre-paid USPS mailing box you can send all the books that fit in that box to help the literacy movement. There are a few guidelines to book donation which can be found on the A to Z Literacy Movement website.
Don’t want to ship books? Well, the dollar is very strong in Zambia, and most families live on about $1 a day. You can donate a financial amount by visiting the A to Z Literacy Movement donation page by using Google Checkout or mailing a check. The donation is tax deductible, and every little bit helps. Have some spare change? Cash it in at the bank and donate your pennies! You can send new books from the dollar bin at Barnes and Noble for less than the cost of a Starbucks latte.
Every child around the world deserves to read, deserves to learn, and deserves your help!
Please consider taking some time out of your day to help a truly worthy cause. There will be children across the world thanking you!
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Mara Half Priced Books have stores throughout the country, including the Chicago suburbs. I go there to pick brand new book and gently used used books all for 50% off….and the clearance is amazing running $.50-2 a book on every subject you can imagine. I use to get them for the kids at the church I worked with on the west side. Anyway I go to the HPB’s up here in Highland Park, I’d be happy to start collecting for A-Z.
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Thanks for letting us know, Mara! I’ll be sure to lend a hand. When I get home I’ll be looking around for books…I KNOW I have tons!
sophia´s last blog ..We, the Citizens of the Blog World…
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Mara @ What's For Dinner? Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 am
Thank you both, SO MUCH!
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Whoa, I totally have some books that I will donate…! And this will make me feel good about passing them on. Going to check out the guidelines now…I like to know of ways I can help that are more/different than just financial donations. Maybe just because it makes *me* feel like I am doing more, but nonetheless, I am glad to hear about this! Props to you (and Mal!).
cinnamonquill´s last blog ..Bread Pudding, without the eggs
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[...] forget to check out the A to Z Literacy Movement, and help out in any way you [...]
I think books are very important for a child’s development. The more they are inspired to read, the more likely they are to be informed about the things going on in the world around them. This is a great idea.
Diana´s last blog ..Bob’s Red Mill & Scotland’s 16th Annual “Golden Spurtle” World Porridge Making Championship
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This is a great cause and I am happy to spread the word. Education is such a way out and a way up for people to be able to care for themselves and their families. I can not even imagine my childhood without books! They are so much of who I am today. Thanks for letting everyone know about this!
Meghan@traveleatlove´s last blog ..And the winners are. . .
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What a great cause!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is´s last blog ..Assorted Pumpkin Mini Breads.
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Hi Mara! I think its wonderful that you posted about this and as a teacher I would love to help! Let me have a look around and possibly even work something out with my school.
Leah @ Simply Fabulous´s last blog ..Making Almond Butter – take 1
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[...] year, I brought your attention to an organization spearheaded by my friend Mal called the A to Z Literacy Movement. Since then, the A to Z Literacy Movement has sent hundreds of books to Zambia to help their school [...]