Want to be an initiator of change for the future of Pottawattamie County? 

There are opportunities all around the county to help our kids achieve 3rd-grade reading proficiency. We have a variety of opportunities to fit your interests and schedule. Volunteers can find a complete list of current volunteer opportunities on our FAMILY, Inc. SHARE Omaha page.

Please contact the director, Samantha Emerine, at (712) 318-1839 or email semerine@familyia.org if you have any additional questions.

Host A Book Drive

Would you like to host a book drive for Raise Me to Read to help promote and improve child literacy across Pottawattamie County?

A book drive is a fun and rewarding way to help your community.

Raise Me to Read is an early literacy initiative so we’re always looking for books for children ages 0-8 (or up until 3rd grade). This includes board books, picture books, early readers, and first chapter books in both English and Spanish. These books are distributed throughout the community, all year long.

Follow these steps to host your book drive!

Step 1: Determine the time, date, location, duration, and reach of the drive.

Step 2: Determine how many volunteers you will need and the different tools you will use for recruitment.

Step 3: Remember our primary focus is for children ages 0-8 years of age. Therefore, board and picture books for infants and toddlers are always needed, “beginning to read” books appropriate for kindergarten – 3rd-grade reading levels, and early learner chapter books.

Step 4: Plan out how you will promote your book drive. You could use flyers, posters, emails, social media, etc. Emphasize the need that books should be new or gently used. Books that are visibly damaged will have to be discarded.

Step 5: Fill out this form to get started!

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