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Wake Up and Read volunteers seek 56,000 books to give five new titles to students at 28 Wake County schools
Summary
Wake Up and Read staff asked the Wake County Board of Education and the public to support the Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader book drive and distribution, aiming to provide five new books to pre-K through third-grade students at 28 partner schools and 18 child development centers.
Wake County Public School System volunteers and staff presented the Wake Up and Read book-drive plan, asking the board and community to help collect 56,000 new books that would give five new titles to each pre-K through third-grade student at 28 partner schools and 18 child development centers.
The Wake Up and Read presentation described the program’s three pillars — out-of-school learning opportunities, school readiness for children birth through age 5, and engaged families — and two family-facing strategies: a parent-leader network and a free text-messaging program, Parent Powered, which sends three weekly messages about reading, math and social-emotional wellness in 10 languages.
Marissa Smith, family leadership and literacy liaison for Wake Up and Read, told the board that parents who want the Parent Powered texts can “text WC to 70138 and if they forget they can find that on our website.” Smith said books collected through the drive help “engage and build trust with our communities and the families that we serve.”
Presenters reviewed the program’s growth, saying it started with six schools and 10 child development centers, expanded to 19 schools and 17 centers, and will partner with 28 schools and 18 centers in the 2025 year. Presenters asked board members to volunteer at spring distributions, host drives and donate new books. They said the program had collected about 36,955 books toward the 56,000 target and asked for additional community help.
The board thanked the presenters and invited questions from members. A board member confirmed the Wake Up and Read website address and another asked for the text code for Parent Powered, which Smith provided. No formal action or vote by the board was recorded on the item.
Wake Up and Read will rely on community donations and board member volunteers for distribution in spring 2025, and the presenters said they will continue outreach and volunteer sign-ups on the program website.
