Donations of new and gently used books are accepted at WHAV’s Ward Hill studios, located at 189 Ward Hill Ave., weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (File photograph)
Have extra children’s books hanging around? WHAV and Haverhill Promise could use them! To mark the end of the first year of Haverhill Promise’s effort to get all city students reading at grade level by third grade, WHAV is hosting a book drive, accepting new and gently used books through the end of December.
The Haverhill Promise program centers around three pillars of school readiness, attendance and summer learning, with Haverhill businesses, school department staff and other community partners banding together to prioritize success. Haverhill Promise organizer and state Rep. Andy Vargas says getting books onto family bookshelves is a key component of the initiative.
“Book distribution is a huge part of the readiness bucket. One of the top indicators of literacy is as basic as how many books does your family has in your house?” Vargas told WHAV. “We’re finding that the ratio of low-income families to medium and high-income families is 13 books to one.”
With the help of media partner WHAV and other local businesses, Haverhill Promise has started to build “little libraries” around Haverhill for all to enjoy.
Donations are accepted at WHAV’s Ward Hill studios, located at 189 Ward Hill Ave., weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Please call Assistant Editor Allison Corneau ahead of time at 978-374-2111 x115 if you plan on stopping by.
WHAV will also have a donation box available on Monday, Dec. 17 from 3-5 p.m. when Open Mic Show hosts Bill Macek and Bill Ellis ring the Salvation Army bell at Westgate Plaza’s Market Basket.