Dunbar Elementary Virtual Book Drive

At the start of every year, we partner with Dunbar Elementary to provide students with brand-new books to read that are age-appropriate and educational. Through this work we support the teachers and administrators of the school and help the students become life-long learners who value reading.

A Letter from Dunbar Elementary

We are still reaping the benefits of last year’s HPUMC book drive!  Thanks to the generous support of members shopping our online book fair for the book drive, we were able to order twice as many books for the library this year!  This was very meaningful as I was enabled to update our medical book section, our biographies, books by and about Native American and other people of color, as well as order multiple series of high-interest beginning chapter books.  

This year the book fair company that we are using for our fundraising is Junior Library Guild, which is known for having high-quality books that kids love.  The goal of this book drive is for each student at Dunbar to be able to choose their very own book to keep.  Studies show that having books in the home is linked to a child’s success in school. This book drive gets the kids excited about books and also helps them grow up in that literature-rich environment.

The church makes such an impact by supporting literacy in our school!  Not only do the books from the book drive go straight into the kids’ hands, but the profits from the JLG fair will enable me to order even more new, high-interest books for the library.  Having lots of choices available in the library helps add excitement to choosing, as well as ensuring that I have ‘something for everyone’.  

In this online book fair, when you land on the website you will see a red area on the left side of the screen with “teacher lists” at the top.  If you use those lists to add books to your cart, they will be automatically shipped straight to Dunbar.  Don’t let the checkout process confuse you; it will ask for your address!  If you chose from the teacher wish list section (red), then the books will ship to Dunbar.

Thanks!

Sarah Cote Goralewicz

Dunbar Elementary Librarian

Here’s How You Can Participate 

You can participate in this year’s book drive by purchasing books HERE in this virtual book fair or by giving HERE. (Please note: when prompted for an address please type in 1730 W Union St, Tampa, FL 33607.)

If you would like to volunteer at Dunbar Elementary, please email Kathy Avant, church liaison.

Watch this video to learn more about the impact this work has on the students and the school.