Get Involved Reach out and Read Kansas City

Host a Book Drive

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 benefiting 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 and the collection boxes 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. Check out our guidelines and our suggested authors and titles list for ideas. Sign up to host a book drive today.

Host a Virtual Book Drive

A virtual book drive is another great option to support Reach Out and Read Kansas City. Don't have time to clean off book shelves or shop for the perfect children's book? No worries, Reach Out and Read Kansas City has created a virtual book drive that will allow you to purchase your favorite children's book from a large collection of classics in the comfort of your home or office. Check out the latest titles available in our virtual book drive here.

Schools and Students Giving Back

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 challenges elementary 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.

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 913-588-0295.

Testimonials from current school partners:

"Working with Reach Out and Read Kansas City is a wonderful organization. Reading is the foundation of all learning and it is joy to know we are helping in their purpose of making every child a reader! Of course, the kids receiving the books are winners, but it is a winning experience for the child that donates the book as well. The whole experience teaches kids the importance of helping others in our community and giving back to those that are less fortunate. Reach Out and Read makes it easy for us by helping us transport the books to those in need. The ROR- KC staff are exceptional in their messages to students as they emphasizes the importance of reading to students and why our book drive is so important to others. We are so fortunate to be part of this amazing partnership!"
- 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 cannot 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!

Become a Reach Out and Read Partner Clinic

Reach Out and Read Kansas City partners with nearly 40 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?

Eligible clinics must meet the minimum requirements:

1.  Provide regular well-child visits for children birth to age 5.

2.  Serve at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (minimum 50% of the total patient population).

3.  Located in the greater Kansas City Metropolitan area (Johnson, Wyandotte, Jackson, Clay, or Platte County).

4.  Dedicate a trained medical provider to serve as the Reach Out and Read Medical Director and one other staff member to serve as the Reach Out and Read Kansas City Site Coordinator.

If you or your clinic meet the minimum requirements, please email Executive Director, Jenny Horsley,  jhorsley@kumc.edu or call 913-945-6577.

Click here to learn about the next steps to joining the Reach Out and Read Kansas City Coalition and becoming a Reach Out and Read clinic.

Become a Corporate Partner

Volunteer Overview

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.

Our volunteers are the backbone of our program, and we are always welcoming new volunteers into the Reach Out and Read family to help share the joy of books with families throughout Kansas City. Check out the many opportunities below to find the best way for you to get involved and be the change you want to see while supporting Reach Out and Read Kansas City.

Volunteer

Event Volunteer

Are you a fun, energetic, and creative individual who enjoys planning different events to benefit a wonderful cause? Reach Out and Read Kansas City wants you!  Help plan fundraising events throughout the year. Events include For the Love of Books Breakfast, Race to Read 5K, Books on Tap Happy Hour, and others. Or you may want to host your own event to benefit Reach Out and Read Kansas City.  Examples include birthday parties to cocktail parties and everything in between.

Being a member of a major event or hosting your own event is the perfect opportunity to get involved and share your passion for reading. Sign up to host your own event benefiting Reach Out and Read Kansas City.

Register to help plan Reach Out and Read Kansas City's next event.

Committee Volunteer

Reach Out and Read Kansas City relies on committees to help us successfully run our program. Now you can share your passion for Reach Out and Read Kansas City by joining one of our many committees:

• Hooked on Books Committee
• Board Development Committee
• Finance Committee
• And many more...

Share your professional expertise with Reach Out and Read Kansas City and other literacy advocates from our community and support our program. To join a committee or learn more about the current volunteer needs please contact Reach Out and Read Kansas City. 

Digital Volunteering

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to provide an opportunity for you to volunteer virtually. It is more important than ever for families, and especially young children to build healthy routines that provide comfort and a sense of order when so much in the world seems chaotic. 

Join our #ReadTogetherKC challenge to help ease children's anxieties from the pandemic. By making reading a daily activity, we help every child have the healthy foundation they need for success. Every Thursday at 12:30 p.m., we are posting an ROR-KC Virtual Storytime on all of our social media platforms. Thank you to all of our readers that have participated so far-including Gary Lezak, Jenny Matthews On-Air, Aja James, ROR-KC Board Members, community members and more!

To participate: 
1.) Please choose one children's book to read.

2.) Then introduce yourself/your role within the community. Please then explain why our mission is needed now more than ever during this time. Then record yourself reading your chosen book! The easiest way to record yourself is to prop your phone against something sturdy so it does not fall or have someone else record for you. HAVE FUN! 

3.) Once you are finished, please email video to equinn5@kumc.edu or utilize Dropbox to send your video to our Dropbox account at reachoutandreadkansascity@gmail.com if the file is too large. 

One Time Opportunities

There are many one time volunteer opportunities that support Reach Out and Read Kansas City. Some of these opportunities include:

• Labeling books
• Hosting a booth at a community event
• Donating professional services
• Stuffing envelopes for mass mailings
• Performing administrative office tasks

Any time commitment you give to Reach Out and Read Kansas City makes a difference in a child's life. Register to volunteer if you are interested in helping Reach Out and Read Kansas City make a difference in the life of a child.