Riverstone Books and Reading Is FUNdamental (RIF) Pittsburgh today announced a new partnership to put books in the hands of 4th, 5th and 6th graders in the Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg school districts this summer. The goal of the program is to help bridge the learning gap and loss of library resources caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forcing an early end to the school year.
For this book drive, Riverstone and RIF Pittsburgh are raising funds to purchase books written by Black or multicultural authors, with storylines, settings and characters drawn from and reflecting the rich, varied experiences and communities shared by most of the children RIF serves. Our goal is to supply over 10,000 new books, which will be distributed to over 3,000 kids this summer. Riverstone will donate 3,600 books to kick off the program. With the announcement today, friends of Riverstone will also match the first $10,000 raised toward a goal of $50,000. Riverstone will work with RIF Pittsburgh to purchase the books at cost so donations can be maximized.
Florri Ladov, Executive Director of Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh, said: “Children from Black and economically disadvantaged families in Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg were already in academic crisis before the pandemic struck, and those with the fewest resources will be hit the hardest by the extended shutdown. Putting books in their hands this summer is one of the most powerful ways we can help them get back on track; ensuring that those books reflect and amplify Black voices is especially urgent now, amid the sweeping demands for honest conversations surrounding race.”
Riverstone Books owner Barbara Jeremiah said: “We first worked with RIF last year on Kate’s Kids Book Bash, honoring the memory of local author and RIF supporter, Kate Dopirak. What began as a conversation about supporting reading for students at home as a result of the pandemic has evolved to an effort on our part to broaden access to books at home for children in Black and low-income families. At Riverstone, we are passionate about the power of reading and the importance of diversity in literature. We believe books can contribute to important discussions about race, empathy, identity, and understanding all the time, and especially now.”
Donations can be made online at http://www.rifpittsburgh.org/donate or checks can be mailed to Reading Is FUNdamentalPittsburgh, 10 Children’s Way, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Please earmark gifts to “Summer Reading Drive.”
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Riverstone Books opened in 2017 as Pittsburgh’s largest independent bookstore, serving the North Hills and surrounding communities with a wide variety of books for children and adults. Riverstone regularly hosts events for local and national authors and a wide variety of community programs. Riverstone Books is located at McCandless Crossing, at the intersection of McKnight Road and Duncan Avenue in McCandless Township. More information is available at RiverstoneBookstore.com. Follow Riverstone on Facebook and Twitter.
Reading Is FUNdamental (RIF) Pittsburgh, founded in 1981, is an independent affiliate of Reading Is Fundamental, Inc., the oldest and largest nonprofit children’s and family literacy organization in the United States. Our mission is to provide children with the resources, motivation, and opportunities to develop a life-long love of reading. Our research-based programs work to bridge the local literacy and achievement gaps and aim to spark a life-long passion for reading and learning in the children that we serve.
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