Posts tagged Book Distributions

It’s Raining Books in Milwaukee

Apr25
2012 Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

One Million Books in Just Ten Days

Last week First Book  distributed close to one million books in Seattle and  Minneapolis. This week, we have a team in Milwaukee, Wisconsin distributing 420,000 books to programs and schools that serve kids in need. Of those 420,000 books, more than 100,000 will be distributed locally throughout the Southeastern Wisconsin area.

To make this distribution possible, New Threads of Hope is donating warehouse space and assistance with logistics, and M&I employees are serving as volunteers, assisting with the packing, shipping and pick up of books throughout the week.

We are incredibly grateful for all of the volunteers and support that we have had over the past couple of weeks. Thanks to the help of of our many volunteers and partners,  we are well on our way to distributing 1.2 million books in just 10 days!

Want to learn more? Click here to sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send you photos, video and information about how you can help get books to kids in need. 

Posted in Volunteers - Tagged , , , ,

First Book Friday: My First Book Distribution

Jun10
2011 Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

Today’s guest blog post is from Susanne Sparks, an engagement manager at First Book. She’s passionate about leveling the playing field so that all children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Last week, I traveled to Jacksonville, Fla. with three of my colleagues to distribute books via the First Book National Book Bank. As a new staff member, I knew facts about how the First Book National Book Bank operated, but was eager to learn more about the process.

Susanne Sparks

The First Book National Book Bank distributes excess inventory from over 90 publishing partners to educators and youth workers serving children from impoverished homes. Disney Publishing Worldwide donated the 430,000 we processed out of Jacksonville.

The distribution had three phases. Tuesday, apply shipping labels to half of the boxes and get them out the door via six tractor trailers. Wednesday, gather boxes of books for pick-up at the warehouse. Thursday and Friday, meet the recipient group representatives—teachers, youth workers, and other “changemakers”—and help load the books into their cars, trucks, trailers, and yes, even a school bus.

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Posted in Around the First Book Office, Books & Reading, First Book Events, Guest Blog Posts, Volunteers - Tagged , , , ,

430,000 Books To Kids!

Jun08
2011 Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

Thanks to Disney Publishing Worldwide and the Duval County Public School System, First Book was able to distribute 430,000 books to kids in need throughout the country last week. We packed and shipped thousands of boxes and we loaded up dozens of cars and trucks with books; we even loaded up a school bus with thousands of books.

We would like to extend a special thank you to all of the volunteers who made this distribution possible! Books to kids!

Check out our photo gallery below:

Posted in First Book Events, First Book Partners - Tagged

Happy Thanksgiving! We need your help!

Nov24
2010 Written by Mitali C.

Do you know of a program that serves teens in your community? If so, we need your help.

This Thanksgiving, we’re looking forward to spending time with friends and family, taking a few days off from work, and fighting our way through desperate crowds of bargain-maddened shoppers. But first, we have some books to give away.

In the past we have focused on serving younger readers, but our partners and customers have made it clear that there is a real demand for books for young adults.  We got the message, and we plan to deliver a lot more books for older kids in 2011. Our generous publishing partners have already responded, and our first major shipment of great YA titles is already here – including P.C. Cast’s ‘House of Night’ series and Alyson Noël’s ‘Shadowland’.

So please take a moment to lend us a hand. Get in touch with every group you can think of that works with young adults – schools, after-school programs, church youth groups, community centers, etc. – and let them know that these books are available now.

We have a limited supply of these titles, so encourage everyone to contact First Book as soon as they can.

Questions? You can always get in touch with our help team, either by email to help@firstbook.org, or by phone at 866-READ-NOW or 866-732-3669.

Thanks, and enjoy your holiday!

Posted in Book Recipients, Books & Reading - Tagged

Bringing Literacy to Music City

Oct08
2010 Written by Julia F.

After months of delay, I was finally able to travel down to Nashville last week and work with the First Book National Book Bank team to distribute 400,000 books from Disney Publishing and Flowerpot Press.

The books originally arrived at the Feed the Children warehouse in April, but tragedy struck when flash floods ravaged the city of Nashville. The flooding completely ruined the lower level of the warehouse as well as other local landmarks and national treasures. Thankfully, the First Book books were stored on the second level of the warehouse and remained undamaged. Both the warehouse and the city of Nashville quickly began recovery and rebuilding efforts and after a few months, Anna, Rachael, Andrew and I were able to start distributing books in Music City.

Our first day was filled with labels, stickers, and more labels. Enthusiastic volunteers from Pi Beta Phi, KPMG, SunTrust and Target helped us to sort, label, and prepare thousands of boxes of books for shipment across the country. If ever anyone was feeling a little dusty or sore, we just kept reminding ourselves, “Books to kids! Books to kids!” There truly is no better way to motivate yourself than to look around and read shipping labels for a small school in Maine, an afterschool program in Michigan, or a daycare center in California and imagine the look of joy on a child’s face when they realize they get to keep this book!

We heard several wonderful stories about these looks of joy when some recipient groups picked up their books on Wednesday and Thursday. One group drove over 6 hours to pick up books for the children they serve! All the groups continually thanked us and said how happy their underprivileged students would be with their brand new books. Talk about job satisfaction!

Friday was filled with reflection (and pancakes from the Pancake Pantry!) as we discussed how smoothly the week had gone. This would not have been possible without the incredible support from the Feed the Children warehouse staff, our tireless volunteers, our generous corporate and publishing partners and of course all of the recipient groups that are so committed to giving children a brighter future.

With perfect weather, friendly people, and delicious food, I couldn’t have asked for a better city to host my first distribution. In short – Nashville was amazing!

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First Book/Le Premier Livre is Waiting For “Superman”!

Oct01
2010 Written by Wayne C.

First Book/Le Premier Livre will distribute 25,000 new books to children from low-income communities across Canada if 5,000 people pledge to see the award-winning documentary film Waiting For “Superman” when it opens in theatres in Toronto October 1st. Go to www.WaitingForSuperman.com and pledge today to see the film and help get 25,000 new books to children across Canada!

Posted in First Book Canada, Movies - Tagged

First Book and Target Celebrate the Launch of Target Read With Me with the Donation of 1 Million Books

Sep30
2010 Written by Mary Beth F.

We are thrilled to announce that First Book is donating one million new books to elementary school students across the country in celebration of the launch of Target Read With MeSM.

When Target was looking for a partner to help make this unprecedented book distribution possible, they came to First Book and together we are distributing new books to schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia!  As you read this, thousands of schools across the country are receiving their part of the one million book distribution.  We’ve been so excited to share this announcement with you, but our lips have been sealed until now.

Target Read With MeSM celebrates Target’s continued commitment to reading and education and calls upon parents and caring adults to pledge to read with a child by visiting www.target.com/reading or by texting READ to TARGET (827438). Once one million pledges have been received, Target will donate an additional one million books, for a total donation of two million books across the country.

Together, First Book and Target are working to give students a brighter future by eliminating the key barrier to literacy – access to books.

To learn more about Read With MeSM and to make your pledge, please visit www.target.com/reading.  To register your school or program with First Book to gain access to free and low-cost books, please visit www.firstbook.org/register.

Check back soon for stories and testimonials from parents, students and educators who have received books from this exciting distribution!

Posted in First Book Partners - Tagged ,

First Book Canada Hosts First Ever Book Distribution in Calgary

Oct16
2009 Written by Janelle H.

DSCN3090First Book Canada held their first ever book distribution in the city of Calgary this last week, under the direction of one determined woman named Carol Anne Ruscica and her fearless compatriot Wayne Cochrane. Between me, a First Book newcomer, and distribution veteran Andy Wright, we were on a mission to make the first First Book/Le Premier Livre distribution a successful one!

More than 17, 000 books were distributed to 23 different organizations, courtesy of Scholastic Canada.  On top of that, once organizations came to pick up their books, the word spread about how First Book Canada was providing brand new books to organizations across Calgary and new recipient groups piled in almost as quickly as the snow.

Lucky for us, volunteers piled in as well. We were blessed with nearly 20 volunteers throughout the course of the week which included Pi Beta Phi alumnae, Calgary Youth Corps and TD Canada Trust employees.  Neighbour Link was generous enough to house the books in their warehouse and their office and warehouse crew were more than accommodating during our chilly 3 day stay.

DSCN3082The First Book/Le Premier Livre staff are now settling back in their Toronto office but their feet have barely hit the floor! Due to the overwhelming success in Calgary they are making new connections all over Canada and are excited to begin planning the next distribution.

Posted in Books & Reading, First Book Canada - Tagged

First Book and Interbake Foods Feed Hungry Minds

Jul31
2009 Written by Meghan R.

FB and Interbake GroupLast Friday, I had the pleasure of participating in a celebratory book distribution at Interbake Foods, Inc. in Front Royal, Virginia.  The distribution was a way to celebrate the success of the Feeding Hungry Minds campaign, during which Interbake Foods donated 50 cents from every box of Sailor Boy Pilot Bread sold from February 28th through the end of March, 2009.  Through the campaign, Interbake Foods and First Book were able to provide 10,000 new books to children in need throughout Alaska.

Mary’s Family, an organization that supports the families of children with special needs, attended the event to receive books.  Martha Toomey, the founder of Mary’s Family, informed us that children with autism and other neurological differences are seldom invited to events because of the disruption that they might cause. She informed us that even library reading hours are difficult to attend for children who can’t remain quiet.  Mary’s Family was able to pick out $500 worth of books for the children they serve, ranging in age from two to fourteen.  The children were overjoyed to choose and receive their new books.DSC_0059

At the event, Interbake Foods showed a video to demonstrate how Sailor Boy Pilot Bread is made.  Through the video, the children were able to tour the factory and see the Pilot Bread being mixed, cooked, and packaged.  They also learned why Sailor Boy Pilot Bread lasts longer than white bread when shipped.  Sammy the giant ice cream wafer made a guest appearance at the event, and the children were able to take pictures with him, while eating their very own pizzas made with Sailor Boy Pilot Bread.

All in all, a wonderful time was had by everyone and the celebration was a success!

Posted in Books & Reading, First Book Events - Tagged , , ,

Must be something in the Wisconsin water…

Aug05
2008 Written by Andy W.

When our flight touched down in Appleton, Wisconsin, Kevin, Cris, Emily and I knew we had our work cut out for us. Over the next 48 hours, we had 480,000 books to label, sort and distribute to over 300 Recipient Groups. But on Wednesday morning, we woke up ready to hit the books. Literally.

The books were donated by Townsend Press, and were stored at RR Donnelley’s Book Fulfillment Services warehouse. The warehouse set us up with everything we needed, and we were off to the races. With the help of Advisory Board members from the nearby Green Bay chapter, as well as other volunteers, we successfully organized all of the orders to be shipped to and picked up by our Recipient Groups. That night we met with local community members to talk about the different ways to tap into First Book resources, at event made possible by the Fox Valley Advisory Board. Karen, the food was incredible!

On Thursday, all that was left to do was load up the vehicles for groups picking up books, and hope for a Brett Favre sighting (to no avail). Without a doubt, I’ll remember the warm hospitality of Appleton. A fantastic distribution all around!

Posted in Book Recipients - Tagged ,