Literacy Coalition of Delaware County

The Book Giveaway Program gets books into the hands of children and families in need.  The Literacy Coalition collects new and gently-used books for distribution to schools, social service organization, community centers, churches, and health clinics.  Over 15,000 books have been received and distributed throughout the community since 2004.
The Literacy Coalition solicits organizations and businesses throughout the community to sponsor book drives and provides technical assistance in conducting the book drives.  A book drive may collect hundreds or thousands of books.  The books are sorted and categorized by age group for targeted distribution.

The Literacy Coalition works with schools and other organizations to target distribution of the books.  Examples of targeted distribution programs include home library building and family literacy/reading intervention support.  The home library building takes gift quality books and gets them into the hands of children to establish their library and build pride in book ownershiSummer Reading Book Totes, and Holiday Gift Books.  Additionally, books are distributed to support family literacy and reading intervention in schools and organizations serving populations at-risk (e.g., economically disadvantaged families, struggling readers, women's shelters, families receiving social service assistance, correctional facilities, etc.).

Alum Creek Elementary PTO

Barnes and Noble

Goddard School of Lewis Center

Goddard School of Powell

MOMS Club of Lewis Center, North and South Chapters

Olentangy Teacher's Association

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Buckeye Valley East – Summer Reading

Conger Elementary – Birthday Books and Summer Reading

Delaware County Jail

Delaware County Job and Family Services

Help Me Grow – Read to Me Books

Turning Point Women's Shelter

Woodward Elementary – Holiday Books and Summer Reading

(WS)2 After School Homework Help Program

The Literacy Coalition has partnered with Willis Intermediate School and Williams Street Methodist Church to offer the (WS)2 Program in order to provide free afterschool homework help and one-on-one tutoring for Willis Intermediate School 5th and 6th graders.

(WS)2 was initiated in 2005 and has grown to over 100 students participating in the program each year.  One-on-one homework help is offered twice a week with an average of 30 students attending each session.  Students are responsible for setting their own goals and receive incentives for their academic progress.  Additional enrichment activities, based on state curriculum standards, are provided along with a snack and supervised computer use. 

The Literacy Coalition provides a Family Literacy Coordinator who works with screened and trained volunteers in implementing the program.  TheCommunity Foundation of Delaware County, Consolidated Electric People's Fund, William Street United Methodist Church, and William Street United Methodist Church Foundation have provided grants for the program space, computers, and other materials.

The Literacy Coalition has developed a series of home literacy kits.  These home literacy kits are duplicated and distributed to elementary and middle schools to be loaned to students.  The home literacy kits:

Increase the reading fluency of students

Improve students comprehension through repeated reading

Increase students' interest in reading by providing books and teaching materials

Train parents in specific skills and strategies to help their children with reading at home

Increase parent/child interaction through the reading process

Kits are theme based and include two to four items such as read-aloud books, poems, activity sheets, and games in an easy to carry bag.  Each kit also contains a parent letter and instructions on how to use the kit.  Themes were developed on high interest topics and were mapped to the school curriculum.

The Rotary Club of Sunbury funded the Literacy Coalition's development of the initial series of 10 home literacy kits and the distribution of 60 home literacy kits to the 21st Century Afterschool Learning Program.

The Literacy Coalition sponsors and supports family literacy events in the community.  The events includes promotion of literacy in the community and may include presentations and materials outlining the importance of reading, age-appropriate reading tips and demonstrations on how to read to children, and ways to incorporate reading at home. Information about literacy services in the community and referrals to other organizations may be also provided.

Examples of family literacy events are:

Family Literacy Workshops - LEADS Head Start programs

Family Literacy Night – Conger Elementary School

Literacy Booths – Delaware Arts Festival, Orange Township Fourth of July Festival, and WOSU Beach Day