| This year’s Harvest of Books was a great success! The 1st and 2nd graders received their new books the week of November 23. Every 1st grader received 2 new books and every 2nd grader received 1 new book. The Lincoln Public Libraries also donated a book bag to every 1st and 2nd grader! Thank you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LEA and KFOR Co-Sponsor the Harvest of Books, Inc. Promotional Sponsors are: Lincoln Journal/Star, Lincoln City Libraries, Boomers Printing Company, and Four Star Drugstores, Cards and Gift Galleries. Since its inception in 1997, the Harvest of Books has become the number one community project in Lincoln to spread the love of reading to children, placing one or more new books in the hands of every Lincoln first and second grade student to take home, cherish, and read with their parents and family. Surprisingly, many Lincoln children have never owned a new book of their own and through the efforts of LEA and the generosity of Lincoln citizens and sponsors of the program, the Harvest of Books, to date, has distributed over 150,000 books to first and second grade students in the public and parochial schools in Lincoln. This year’s Harvest goal is to be able to donate another 13,000 new books in November. During the Harvest campaign drive in October, participating bookstores give a 25 – 40% discount on children’s books purchased for the Harvest. Individuals may, if they wish, sign their name (or company name) to a bookplate that will be affixed to the book so the recipient knows who made the donation. Participating bookstores include: the Adventist Book Center, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Gloria Deo, Indigo Bridge Books, Lee Booksellers, Nebraska Bookstore, University Bookstore, and Usborne Books at Home. Check with the individual bookstores for the discount they are offering for the Harvest. Individuals who want to make a cash donation and have LEA volunteers do the shopping for them may send donations to the Harvest of Books, c/o the Lincoln Education Association, 4920 Normal Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68506. Memorials in the name of individuals who were avid book lovers are a wonderful way to honor the memory of a loved one, too, and a way to instill their love for reading in a child. The Harvest of Books is a 501(c)(3) entity and donations may be considered as a charitable donation for purposes of income taxes. LEA’s co-sponsor this year for the Harvest of Books is KFOR radio with additional assistance from Boomer’s Printing Company, Four Star Drugstore Card & Gift Galleries, the Lincoln Journal Star, the Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln Teachers Federal Credit Union, and TMCO, Inc (Total Manufacturing Company of Lincoln). In these trying financial times when people want the biggest bang possible for the dollars they donate to charity, nothing is more valuable than an investment in a child’s future. Something as small as a new book of one’s own can trigger excitement and tickle the imagination in a way that leads to becoming a lifelong reader and learner. Participating in the Harvest of Books program is a way everyone in Lincoln can be a part of changing a child’s life to the better. |
