INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Learning Alliance is organizing a Moonshot Moment “Page it Forward” book collection, to end on Nov. 3, 2015 – the 2nd annual Moonshot Moment Day of Service.
Organizations can support the Moonshot Moment by collecting new or gently used books for children ages one through 12 (up to grade 5.) The books will be given to children in Indian River County.
Currently, more than one-third of children are reading below grade-level in the United States. Inability to read is linked to poverty, dependence on welfare, unemployment, and crime. Studies show that access to printed materials has been found to be the “critical variable affecting reading acquisition.” However, these same studies show that on average, low income children often have no age-appropriate books in their home.
Marie O’Brien, director of community outreach for the Moonshot Moment, said, “As a step toward achieving the Indian River County Moonshot Moment goal to have 90 percent of children reading on grade level by the end of third grade, we are working to ensure that all children will have books in their home! It’s a great time to clean up the bookshelves and ‘page it forward’ by donating today.”
Drop off locations include, but are not limited to:
• All thirteen public elementary schools in the School District of Indian River County and the School District Main Office at 1990 25th Street, Vero Beach, FL
• Indian River Chamber of Commerce, 1216 21st Street, Vero Beach, FL
• ChristianFM Radio, 9055 Americana Road, #24, Vero Beach, FL 32966
• United Way, 1836 14th Avenue, Vero Beach
• School District of Indian River County District Offices – Vero Beach
• Vero Beach Boys & Girls Club, 1729 17th Ave. Vero Beach, FL 32960
• Sebastian Boys & Girls Club. 1415 Friendship Lane. Sebastian, FL 32958 (behind town hall)
• Fellsmere Boys & Girls Club, 22 S. Orange St., Fellsmere, FL 32948 (1st floor of old school house)
• Fidelity Investments, 3340 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach
For those who would like to be part of the Moonshot Moment Day of Service by being be a book drop off location, or for those who want to learn more about the Moonshot Moment and the book drive program, please visit moonshotmoment.org or contact Marie O’Brien of The Learning Alliance, (mobrien@thelearningalliance.org) or call 877-548-READ.
