Literacy Program

The goal of the Toys of Hope literacy program is to encourage children to read by providing them with new books and reading materials. Books are donated by bookstores, such as Borders and Barnes & Noble, as well as publishers, including Scholastic Books.

Books provided range from those for infants, such board books and bath time books, through nursery rhyme books and early readers up to high school age reading materials.

The children are referred by either a teacher, social worker or school nurse and also by other not-for-profit organizations.

The Interactive Reading Program provides a volunteer who will visit with the children, read a story that they can participate in, and then elicits ideas and comments, using friendly puppets to teach a gentle lesson in manners or morals. The children are excited by the presentation, and their teachers report that it makes them enthusiastic about learning.

We also distribute Birthday Books to children in need. The children look forward to receiving a book every year on their birthday as an extra special present.