It Takes a Community: 50,000 Books Distributed to At-Risk Children in Southern Nevada

On February 21, 2009, Spread the Word Nevada: Kids to Kids spearheaded an effort to distribute more than 50,000 books to local schools and community organizations in Southern Nevada.

Nearly 30 dedicated volunteers, and Spread the Word Nevada: Kids to Kids Board members and staff, helped distribute books to 45 groups including schools, health groups, charities and religious organizations.

Said Laurie Hartig (pictured, above right), Founder and Director of Programs for Spread the Word Nevada, "This is the first time we've ever done this type of mass distribution, and we wanted to help the schools get these brand new books for their little ones in time for Nevada Reading Week. For many of the kindergarteners and first graders who receive these books, these will be the first books they've ever owned."

Representatives of the groups receiving the books make pick-ups at a warehouse, operated by Czarnowski, an event and exhibit services company, just off the Strip in Las Vegas.

There were four main stations at the warehouse, with volunteers loading books into cars and trucks as they drove through the expansive warehouse. The quantity of books loaded into vehicles varied from 20-30 boxes to full pallets containing about 50 boxes. A Czarnowski forklift was on hand to assist with loading the larger quantities of books into pick-up trucks and flatbed trailers.

Sarah Popek, a representative of one of the recipient schools, Cahlan Elementary said, "I'm picking up 1,000 books for our kindergarten and first graders, and also for some of our second graders who need tutoring. Thank you so much, Kids to Kids!"

Another organization that participated was Baby First Help of Southern Nevada. The organization is an all-volunteer group dedicated to providing mother-to-mother, one-on-one support for first-time mothers, pregnant teens and at- risk pregnant women. Suzanne Kuhn, the program director, said "These books will enrich a child's life and it is wonderful to have books at our various locations to be able to distribute."

Organizing the distribution of the vast number of books was an enormous logistical undertaking. Heading up the effort were the above Spread the Word Nevada staffers (from left to right): Lisa Habighorst, Executive Director; Laurie Hartig, Founder and Director of Programs; and Cynthia Hensel, Breakfast With Books Program and Book Drive Coordinator.

The massive number of books was available for distribution because of a donation by First Book, a national nonprofit organization established to provide new books to children in need. First Book has been a strong supporter of Kids to Kids since 2002. Learn more about First Book.

Story credits: Reporting by Erik Kludasch. Photos by Scott Roeben.