4th Annual YCL BOOk Drive!
May 15 - June 2, 2024

YCL is once again partnering with Meals 4 Kids, a program by Meals on Wheels People. The Meals 4 Kids program serves qualified children and families within the City of Portland and Gresham experiencing food insecurity. The Meals 4 Kids home delivery program delivers nutritious meals, milk, bread, and fresh fruit directly to the homes of families in need each week. MOWP/M4K serves families who live within the City of Portland whose income level is 185% or lower of the federal poverty level.

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‘Book It Forward’ YCL Children’s Book Drive initiative began in the middle of a global pandemic in 2020. The pandemic shined a light on the educational disparities for families living in poverty and especially people of color who already lacked access to the internet, general technology, and e-books.

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YCL served more than 300 kids with a book pack of up to 10 books in each of the past three years. Summer reading is critical for students to retain knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year and students who don't read are at risk of falling behind their classmates. Summer reading loss is one factor contributing to the achievement gap between more and less economically advantaged students. Children from low-income families have more restrictive access to books, both in school and at home, than do their more advantaged peers.

 

You can drop new or gently used English and Spanish books at the following locations until the first week of June. After that time, YCL members will clean and sort the books for delivery to kids by the end of June.

 

Local businesses:

• Cheers to You Party Store: 8112 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Portland, 97225

• Jim and Patty's Coffee (Forest Heights): 2021 NW Miller Road, Portland, 97229

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Schools:

• Forest Park Elementary

• Lincoln High School

• Tualatin High School

• West Sylvan Middle School

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