Among the casualties of last month’s Hurricane Sandy, books are the least recognized. The “Reach Out and Read Program” at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital was hit particularly hard, when they lost thousands of books to the storm. Children visit a doctor’s office more than most any other place before they start first grade, so the “Reach Out and Read Program” aims to place children’s books in doctor’s offices. There’s nothing more valuable than the ability to read and write, and providing a child a book can introduce them to a greater number of opportunities than they might otherwise encounter. This nation has spent too much money on war and prisons. As individuals, we can certainly make a difference by spending money on one book to donate to the program.
You can make a monetary donation here.
Or, contact Marie Betancourt at roramarie1@aol.com to find other ways to donate. She’s already advised me, however, that Bellevue is currently closed because of the storm. But, I think we can all still have a more positive impact on the lives of the patients it serves.
Image courtesy Literary Hoarders.
Chief Writing Wolf 