Literary Activism

Friday Fund Days: Drop Some Dollars & Help Some Classrooms!

Kelly Jensen

Editor

Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.

With the world being a difficult place for those of any marginalized background, one of the things those of us who are looking to do something can do is donate to those in need. Thousands of teachers each year ask for a little help with seeking supplies for their classrooms via Donors Choose; organizations that do work with at-risk communities like prison populations seek spare change to advocate for and bring literacy to those groups; and non-profits that provide necessary resources to empower women and people of color are always hoping for a few bucks to make their vital work possible.

Enter: Friday Fund Days.

Book Riot readers have helped fund hundreds of classrooms over the last few years, and we’ll help bring funds to hundreds more. Each Friday, we’ll highlight two classrooms or other literacy-focused, important projects in hopes you’ll help them reach their goals to bring literature, advocacy, and education to others.

Even if you can’t spare money, any social sharing you can offer to the projects each week absolutely helps: you never know who’ll find it and have the means by which to make the project’s fundraising goals reached. More, you’ll bing awareness to the unmet needs in communities around the world, as well as right in your own back yard.

When all else feels hard or hopeless, remember that you can and do make a difference.

This Week’s Projects

Drop Everything and Read, Stuttgart, Arkansas ($420)

My Project

“At our school, students struggle with reading comprehension. This is evident in test scores across the board, but it is proven that, through practice, students will improve reading comprehension over time. I would like to grow our classroom library with more modern books that students can choose from, to encourage reading growth. Most of the books in my classroom library are severely dated or mostly nonfiction, which students don’t typically enjoy reading. Though I have added to my library over the years, it has become a very expensive duty. I would love for all of my students to be able to read books of their choice, but I simply cannot fund it on my own.”

Books requested include The Hate U Give, The Crossover, Darius The Great Is Not Okay, and More.

 

Diverse and Relevant Reads, Steelton, Pennsylvania ($619)

My Project

“These books will be used in my English and reading enrichment class. Students will have the opportunity to read aloud, be read to, and delve into a few books that are important, relevant, and interesting to them. Short stories and old textbooks only go so far, so if we want to create a love of reading, we need to give them things they’ll love to read!

Students will have the chance to see their own experiences reflected in literature and to understand how others think and feel as well.

They will be able to relate these books to their lives, and Spanish copies will make them accessible to all of my kids.”

Nearly all students are from tough economic backgrounds, and the request include The Hate U Give and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, both in English and in Spanish. 

 

Whether you can donate a dollar, donate fifty dollars, or donate a share on social media, you make a difference!