Column: Clearinghouse for Volunteers

03/12/09 - First Book is a national nonprofit organization which works to promote literacy in children by providing children their first books and improving access to books. According to the First Book official Web site, eight million books were delivered in 2008." Literacy and education in children is important to shape growth, development and knowledge since they are the future.The University of Rhode Island had their very own chapter and it is actually the only chapter throughout all of Rhode Island. First Book URI is a student run organization on campus (with the supervision of Sarah Miller, the coordinator of the Feinstein Center for Service Learning) that serves the entire state by giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

First Book is URI's efforts to give back to Rhode Island families, which is such an important asset considering these times of economic hardship. Part of First Book URI's mission is to devote an undivided amount of attention and advocacy for literacy issues to the community at large.

Within the upcoming months, First Book URI will be sponsoring a variety of events from movie premieres to literacy days on the Quadrangle and all things in-between. If you would like to receive more information or contribute to First Book URI through monetary donations or by donating newly purchased books (aged preschool to middle school), please contact Sarah Miller via e-mail at sgmiller@mail.uri.edu or Brittany Campbell via email at bcampbell@mail.uri.edu .

If you are interested in the learning more about literacy in youth and providing books for young children, First Book URI is also looking for more volunteers and new members for their group on campus. If you are interested in this you can contact Brittany Campbell.

If you are looking for other volunteer opportunities, please contact Corrine Hawes via e-mail at Corrine.hawes@gmail.com, or visit the Clearing House for Volunteers located in Roosevelt Room 125.

Please have a safe and fantastic Spring Break!