Schools and Students Giving Back
Is your school looking for ways to give back in the community or engage your students in the spirit of giving back? If you answered yes, you have come to the right place! Now your school can get involved with Reach Out and Read Kansas City and impact the life of child in need by participating in any or all of the following opportunities:
At your next Scholastic Book Fair, select Reach Out and Read Kansas City as the beneficiary of your All For Books Campaign. Encourage your students to help less fortunate children receive a book of their own by collecting loose dollars and change at the fair. At the close of the fair, use the money collected to purchase quality books for kids in the Reach Out and Read program.
During a book fair or at an upcoming school event, ask students to clean off their book shelves at home and donate their new or gently used books to Reach Out and Read Kansas City. Books are needed for ages birth - 6 years.
Participate in the Annual Hooked on Books Challenge! This friendly competition among elementary schools challenges schools to collect the most new and gently used children's books per student. All books collected are donated to ROR-KC and other local non profits. The winning school not only receives bragging rights, but also receives a $500 Scholastic credit, an assembly to celebrate their accomplishments, and recognition at Reach Out and Read Kansas City's annual Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast. Getting your school and students involved is easy and fun! Please notify Reach Out and Read Kansas City of your partnership selections by completing the online form or calling 913-588-2793.
Testimonials from current school partners:
- Brian Lowe, Principal, Meadow Lane Elementary, Olathe School District
"ROR-KC provided my first grade students with many wonderful experiences. First, we held our book drive during the month of November, so they were able to share what they were thankful for and to give to those in need. Second, we collected books with our Sixth Grade Buddies, so this allowed for some great bonding time between the grade levels! And last, but certainly not least, my students learned the valuable lesson of how it is better to give than to receive. We plan on making this November book drive an annual tradition! Thank you, ROR-KC!"
- Lindsay Meyer, 1st Grade Teacher, Prairie Elementary, Shawnee Mission School District
"Clear Creek truly enjoys supporting the efforts of ROR-KC for many reasons! Reading is so important to our school community that our students simply can%u2019t imagine other children not getting to enjoy the adventures that books take them on daily. They feel a great sense of pride and responsibility knowing that their favorite books are being passed on to other children to delight in. And not only do our families feel accomplished as they spread the love of reading, supporting others in need is a great learning experience for all. My students beg for the Hooked on Books competition! Not only do they want to clean off their bookshelves to make room more for new books, they want to help the Kansas City community and ignite a passion for reading and books in others!"
- Dandra Arter, Library Media Specialist, Clear Creek Elementary, Desoto School District
Thank you for helping instill the love of books and reading in Kansas City's kids!
Reach Out and Read Kansas City partners with over 50 clinics and health centers throughout the metropolitan area to provide critical early literacy programs and services to low income children birth to age 5. Is your clinic interested in joining our coalition of medical providers who are making Reach Out and Read Kansas City part of their practice?
Would you like to get involved with a great program that helps children throughout our community? Are you interested in making a difference in others' lives that will have true impact? if so, we invite you to become a Reach Out and Read Kansas City Volunteer.
If you love interacting with children and bringing smiles to their faces, then becoming a volunteer reader in one of our 30 clinic waiting rooms throughout the metro could be the perfect opportunity for you! Reach Out and Read Kansas City volunteer readers create literacy-rich waiting rooms, read aloud to children, and model book sharing activities to parents. This opportunity will not only enhance a child's life but will also enrich your life as you see the delight that reading brings to each child. 
Reach Out and Ready Kansas City is always seeking new and gently-used children's books to distribute to children in need. What better way to collect these books than by hosting a book drive benefitting Reach Out and Read Kansas City? This is the perfect opportunity to recruit friends, family, colleagues, faith-based organizations, corporations, or civic groups to come together and support early literacy in our community. Reach Out and Read Kansas City will provide all the book drive details, the collection boxes, and the marketing materials to ensure that your book drive is a huge success. Hosting a book drive is the perfect way to bring together all the people in your life while making a difference for your community. 