Sheltering Arms

Holiday Book Drive for Sheltering Arms Children

Learn more about how you can donate to the Sheltering Arms Books & Bears Drive.

(ATLANTA, November 16, 2007) - What’s warm and fuzzy and read all over? It’s the Books & Bears Drive, providing new books and cuddly story time companions to 2,300 metro Atlanta children this holiday season. Books & Bears is a project of Sheltering Arms Early Education & Family Centers, one of Atlanta’s oldest and largest nonprofits. Donations of new children’s books and stuffed animals will be collected throughout December at all 16 Sheltering Arms centers in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties, as well as online at www.shelteringarmsforkids.com.

"Studies show nearly two-thirds of low-income families own no books for their children, yet book ownership is one of the strongest predictors of future reading success," says Elaine Draeger, President & CEO of Sheltering Arms. "To address that gap, we started Books & Bears about 17 years ago. The community is so generous during the holidays. Books & Bears gives them a way to brighten a child’s holiday and a child’s mind at the same time."

"For many of us, the values we hold most dear are those we learned through stories…stories shared by family, stories heard in worship, stories read in books," says Rob Cleveland of August House, a local publisher of children's books and folktales. August House partners with Sheltering Arms in its year-round literacy program, Operation StoryBook. "Through Operation StoryBook, August House is helping to share those time-honored stories with a new generation by making sure every child at Sheltering Arms has a well-stocked home library."

Those who would like to donate a book to a Sheltering Arms child may purchase copies online through Sheltering Arms' online Amazon wish list at www.shelteringarmsforkids.com, or can deliver the donations to a Sheltering Arms center. Cash donations are also welcome. Through partners like August House, Sheltering Arms is able to purchase books at reduced costs, so a gift of $36 can provide one child with 12 new books for their home library.

Since it was founded by volunteers in 1888, Sheltering Arms has served low-income working families with child care, preschool, and support services. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare children to succeed in school. Sheltering Arms’ school readiness curriculum nurtures children’s early cognitive, social, and physical development, and its support services help families strengthen the parenting skills and provide the resources children need to thrive. Each year, on average 94% of Sheltering Arms children meet or exceed school readiness requirements and developmental milestones.

"Ninety percent of children’s brain development occurs in the early years before kindergarten," says Elaine Draeger. "Even before they can read, children who grow up in homes rich with printed and spoken word are building skills to become enthusiastic readers. In that way, the Books & Bears Drive provides 2300 children with a gift, not just for the holidays, but for a lifetime."

About August House: August House is the highly-acclaimed and award-winning multimedia publisher of children's stories, folktale anthologies and resource books. Over the last 25 years, August House has developed one of the most respected collections of stories from around the world. Parents, teachers, and librarians love these stories because of their integrity and authenticity. For More Information about August House please contact Rob Cleveland at 404-442-4420.

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