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99%
of the students we support live below the poverty line |
20,000
books have been distributed to low-income students since 2017 |
10,000
students have been impacted by one of our programs |
OUR PROGRAMS
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Books & Cookies
The Books & Cookies program is an after-school and weekend program for students who come from low-income neighborhoods. During each meeting, students work with our high school volunteers on icebreaker and reading activities. Examples of icebreaker activities include name bingo, wax museum, and Pictionary. Students receive a free book every other week and during the week’s in between, students participate in a wide variety of reading activities. Our goal for this program is to create a fun and safe after-school club for students. |
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Books & Basketball The goal for our Books & Basketball program is for students to build a healthy spirit, mind and body through a program that mentors, engages in sports, and supports reading. Students in our Books & Basketball program spend half the time reading and half the time playing basketball with our volunteers. Students participating in the Books & Basketball program also receive the opportunity to participate in the Annual Books & Basketball Tournament at Westminster Christian Academy. |
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PROGRAM LOCATIONS
Our programs are always free to the families we support. Snacks are provided during every meeting and books are provided every other meeting.
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East St. Louis, Missouri
Dewey ISS Gene Slay's Girls and Boys Club Mullanphy-Botanical Garden Elementary Walbridge Elementary Washington Montessori Memphis, Tennessee (Coming Soon) Delano Elementary Evans Elementary Raleigh Library Shady Grove Elementary For a detailed list of program locations, click here. |
North County St. Louis, Missouri
Armstrong Elementary Marion Elementary Bel-Nor School Rock Road Library Combs Intermediate Fairview Intermediate Ferguson Public Library Griffith Intermediate Halls Ferry Intermediate Lee-Hamilton Intermediate |
HOW TO HELP
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The Literacy Initiative is always looking for more high school volunteers to get involved. It's a great way to get community service hours while making a difference in the community. With a flexible volunteering schedule, it's the perfect opportunity to join a fast-growing, student-led, non-profit organization!
For more information on volunteer opportunities, click here. |
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TESTIMONIALS
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I am the librarian at one of the schools Agha has sent high school students to mentor elementary students. This organization is so well ran that I thought it was an adult running the program until I met him in person. This organization has made a huge impact on students wanting to read more than they have ever read before! This mentoring program has been such a huge success in my school that we constantly have a wait list of elementary students that wants to join Books and Cookies.
-Stephanie Goh, Librarian at Combs Elementary I was highly impressed with the student volunteers. They were very friendly and engaged with the students. We are very excited about the program!
-Lisa Broadbent, Assistant Principal at Marion Elementary |
This is an awesome way to encourage literacy, build leadership skills and responsibility in high school students, and build connections across the St. Louis area (which has been historically notorious for racial and socioeconomic disparities).
-Katelyn Chapman, Volunteer from Parkway West High This is an amazing program that connects students with other students. It not only promotes literacy but it also promotes the growing and connecting of St. Louis students regardless of socioeconomic status. This program is truly a wonderful opportunity for students of all ages to participate, grow, and change their communities for the better.
-Libby Meister, Volunteer from Cor Jesu Academy |
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SPECIAL EVENTS
To view a full calendar of events, please check out our Events Calendar.