Transform Rockford, a local organization with a mission to transform the community from within and become “Top 25 by 2025,” is pleased to announce it is teaming up with local organizations and hosting its second annual community-wide holiday book drive, November 4 – November 30. The goal of the drive is to bridge the Christmas break reading gap by putting books in the hands of young students and to encourage residents that children, as early as infants, should have access to books.

Community members are encouraged to donate new or mint-condition books from infancy through pre-k levels at one of the following locations:

  • Transform Rockford, 303 N. Main Street, Suite 110
  • Rockford Police Stations:
    • District 1 – 1045 W. State Street
    • District 2 – 1410 Broadway
    • District 3 – 557 S. Newtowne Drive
  • Midland States Bank Locations:
    • Machesney Park, 613 Harlem Road
    • Cherry Valley, 1972 Pawlisch Drive
    • Rockford – East State Street, 6838 E. State Street
    • Rockford – Spring Creek Road, 2218 N. Mulford Road
    • Rockford – North Main Street, 1401 N. Main Street
    • Rockford – Highcrest, 1700 N. Alpine Road
    • Rockford – Inside Schnuck’s East State Street, 6410 E. State Street
    • Rockford – Inside Schnuck’s Charles Street, 2642 Charles Street
    • Loves Park – Inside Schnuck’s Harlem & Alpine, 180 Harlem Road
  • YMCA of Rock River Valley Locations:
    • SwedishAmerican Riverfront YMCA, 200 Y Blvd, Rockford, IL
    • Puri Family YMCA, 1475 S. Perryville Road, Rockford, IL
    • Northeast Family YMCA, 8451 Orth Road, Loves Park, IL
  • Rockford Public Library Locations:
    • Hart Interim Library, 214 N. Church Street, Rockford, IL
    • East Branch, 6685 E. State Street, Rockford, IL
    • Montague Branch, 1238 S. Winnebago Street, Rockford, IL
    • Rock River Branch, 3128 11th Street, Rockford, IL
    • Rockton Centre Branch, 3112 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL
  • Cherry Valley Library, 755 E. State Street, Cherry Valley, IL
  • Belvidere Ida Public Library, 320 N. State Street, Belvidere, IL
  • Byron Public Library, 100 S. Washington Street, Byron, IL
  • Half Priced Books, 6669 E. State Street, Rockford, IL
  • Barnes and Noble, 7200 Harrison Avenue, Rockford, IL

“By hosting a community-wide book drive, all residents in the region can contribute to the Transformation Plan particularly in the area of education and supporting students and families, ensuring all are ready,” said Transform Rockford Executive Director David Sidney. “Statistics show that students who read at home have a higher success rate in school and children who read at grade level by the time they enter into third grade are less likely to drop out of school.”

Transform Rockford’s goal is to collect 3,000 books which will be donated to students enrolled in early childhood programs throughout the region. Transform Rockford Steering Committee members, staff and volunteers will wrap the books and directly hand them out to students during the last week of school before winter break. If you’re interested in getting you or your business involved in a wrapping party, sign-up here: tinyurl.com/TRBookDrive19.

Monetary donations are also accepted by going to www.transformrockford.org. For more information on how to donate or get involved, contact Transform Rockford Strategy & Communications Manager Katryna Kirby at (815) 977-5840 or katryna@transformrockford.org. Visit Transform Rockford’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date on book drive details.

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