Worcester - The City that Reads 11th Annual Book Drive Kicks Off with Goal of Collecting 35,000 Books
For Immediate Release:
3/23/2016 1:22 pm
Worcester, MA (March 23, 2016) - Worcester: the City that Reads Committee is once again collecting books (Pre-K to grade 8) for their annual book drive, this year themed "Spring into Books." Collection goes from March 21st to May 15th. Please see the list of drop-off sites below.
Traditionally, the books have been distributed to low-income students, social agencies, groups with summer school programs and schools.
Worcester: the City that Reads was founded by John and Anne-Marie Monfredo twelve years ago in an attempt to promote literacy in the community, put books into the hands of children who lack books in their homes and to promote the importance of being a life time reader. In ten years the group has given out over 320,000 books to children in the Worcester community!
John Monfredo said that the drive is off to a great start with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing company already donating more than 4,500 new books!
Please donate new or gently used books, pre-kindergarten to grade 8, at the following sites from now to May 15th.
- Worcester City Hall - City Manager's Office and Info Booth on 1st Floor
- Worcester Public Library
- Worcester Public Schools School Committee Office - 20 Irving Street
- People's United People's Bank (All Five City Branches in Worcester)
- Commerce Bank (All Four City Branches Including Holden)
- Bay State Savings Bank (All Branches)
- Bank of America (at Tatnuck Square)
- TD Bank Located on West Boylston Street
- Stop and Shop on Lincoln Street
- Stop and Shop on Grafton Street
- Stop and Shop on West Boylston Street
- Shaws Market on West Boylston Street
- RSVP and the Senior Center on Vernon Street
- Worcester Credit Union - on West Boylston Street
- Starbucks Coffee on 1 West Boylston Street
- Panera's on West Boylston Street
- Austin Liquor at Gold Star Boulevard
- Jewish Community Center on Salisbury Street
- Leader's Way - Kung Fu Academy on Burncoat Street
- Greendale YMCA
- Main Street YMCA
- Bagel Inn on Main Street in Holden, MA
- St. Vincent's Hospital at the Entrance Door on Summer Street
- Summit Elder Care on Grafton Street
- Anne's Books Shop on James Street in Worcester
- Congressman James McGovern's Office - 12 East Worcester Street
- EcoTarium in Worcester
- UMass Memorial Hospital - Belmont Street
- UMass Medical - Plantation Street
In addition, the following businesses and organizations will be having their own book drive in an attempt to assist the children of Worcester.
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
- UBS Financial Services
- Worcester Public School High Schools (Burncoat High, Doherty High, North High, South High, Claremont Academy, University Park Campus and Worcester Technical High)
- Wachusett High School
- Bancroft School
- St. Peter-Marion
- Holy Name High School
- St. John's High School
- Notre Dame Academy
- Worcester Academy
- Venerini Academy
- Boy Scouts
- Girl Scouts
- Hanover Insurance
- Harvard Pilgrim
- Little leagues of Worcester
- UNUM insurance
- Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital
- Wilson Language Training Center
- You, Inc.
The following colleges and universities: WPI, Holy Cross College, Becker College, Worcester State University, Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Mass. College of Pharmacy, Salter College and Quinsigamond Community College
- AFL/CIO Labor
- Salvation Army in Worcester
- Northboro Junior Women's Club
- Beth Tikvah and Bnai Shalom in Westborough
A LISTING OF THESE SITES AND OTHER ADDITIONAL SITES CAN BE ACCESSED BY GOING TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: www.mywpl.org OR www.worcesterschools.org.
For more information, or if other schools or businesses are interested in helping out please call John or Anne-Marie Monfredo at (508) 853-3444. Remember, everyone can help in this most worthwhile community service project and bring the joy of reading to every child. As the Monfredos stated, "No skill is more crucial to the future of a child or to a community, than literacy."
