I have always enjoyed the feeling of opening a brand new book. The crisp, untouched pages, vibrant colors that just pop and fresh ink and new paper smell that hits your nose before you even open it. There is something magical knowing that no one else has ever witnessed the adventures in your brand new book. Many children in need, however, do

Memorial High School students delivering their donations to the library

not get to experience this joy. They are used to hand me down books; battered, torn, dog-eared…very well loved. There is nothing wrong with these books, my shelves are full of them. But to give these children in the Eau Claire area the opportunity to experience owning a brand new book that they can call their own, the Friends of the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library has hosted the Give a Kid a Book project for the past 24 years during the holiday season. This book drive collects new and unwrapped books and then distributes them to local agencies, like the Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Club of the Chippewa Valley, who in turn give them to children in their programs.

For the past two years, I have volunteered at the Toys for Tots event at the Salvation Army. Parents can select which brand new book they think their child would like to receive for Christmas because of the donations from the Give a Kid a Book project. I have witnessed the excitement the parents share when they have found the perfect book they want to gift to their child. The generosity of the community allows a wide selection of quality books that may not be found other times of the year. We appreciate the support of donors and volunteers and there are many ways you can help with Give a Kid a Book to ensure that every child receives their perfect, new book this holiday season!

1. Donate new, unwrapped children’s books and deliver them to the library: 

• Fiction & non-fiction books for ages 6-18
• Picture books for ages 2-5
• Board or cloth books for babies
• Audiobooks for all ages
  

  Give a Kid a Book volunteers sorting books to be delivered to agencies.

2. Let us shop for you!

• Mail your check to:

                        Friends of LEPMPL

                        Attn: GAKAB

                        400 Eau Claire St.

                        Eau Claire, WI 54701

• Cash donations may be put in the jar under the evergreen tree at the library beginning in December.
• Online donation: https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/friends/programs/give-a-kid-a-book/

3. Drop off books at The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild event, “Joy to the Word: An Evening Of Songs, Stories, Humbug And Holiday Cheer,” on December 18 at 7 p.m. at the Pablo Center at the Confluence.

4. Participate in Books-A-Million’s (BAM) holiday book drive Nov. 4 – Dec. 15.

5. Volunteer to shop, sort or deliver books at https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/friends/programs/give-a-kid-a-book/ or email friendsofthelibrary@eauclaire.lib.wi.us