“Pass the Book” Book Drive – by Anne Billeter
The Storytelling Guild of Jackson County is once again collecting gently used and new children’s books for its “Pass the Book” program.
Each year the Storytelling Guild distributes children’s books to agencies in Jackson County to share with the families they serve. In 2013 the Storytelling Guild distributed more than 4,000 books. Every child in Head Start in two counties received a book to own. Every child who visits the Children’s Advocacy Center, La Clinica del Valle’s three health clinics, and the four Community Health Centers is invited to take a book. Books are distributed to children at the Dunn House, Kids Unlimited, the Magdalene Home, On Track, and the North Medford High School Child Development Center. Children in foster care receive books through DHS. Books are delivered to the Family Nurturing Center, the Juvenile Detention facility, the Maslow Project, Access, Inc., DESD Child Development Services, the Medford Railroad Park, RVMC Pediatrics, the Boys and Girls Club of Talent, and Healthy Families (formerly Healthy Start.) The Ruch School-Community K8 is the newest agency to receive books.
Books may be donated to “Pass the Book” during the month of January at all 15 branches of the Jackson County Library. Books are needed for all age groups, from babies to teens and all ages in between. Board books for babies are especially needed and bilingual English/Spanish books are in high demand. Share your love of books and reading: donate children’s books to the Storytelling guild’s “Pass the Book” program.
The Storytelling Guild is a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community by providing opportunities for children to be exposed to the magic of books and the joy of reading. “Pass the Book” is just one of their programs. They also present an annual “Book Walk” fashion show of books to 3rd graders, present a weekly preschool storytime at the Medford Library Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m., sponsor a free show at the Craterian each January, provide 24 hour access to Dial-a-Story at 541-774-6439 in English and Spanish, and provide a scholarship to an RCC student passionate about early literacy and/or early childhood education. The Storytelling Guild is best known for the annual Children’s Festival. Planning has begun for the 48th Children’s Festival at the Britt Grounds in Jacksonville in July 2014. Exact dates of the three-day festival will be announced in January. More information about the Storytelling Guild is available at www.storytellingguild.org.
Also, the Storytelling Guild is co-sponsoring with the Craterian Theater at the Collier Center, two performances by the Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” on Sunday,January 19, at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. FREE ADMISSION, with donation of a new or gently used children’s book for local outreach programs.
Questions? Email Anne Billeter: billeter@entwood.com.
Posted December 29, 2013