Back to Work, Back to School and Book Drive!
Over the last months, parents and children have started returning to the office and in-person learning. For some families, it’s been a year or more since they had face-to-face interaction inside a school or an office. For many of Colorado’s children who are furthest from opportunity, it’s also been over a year of limited access to books and literacy-rich environments. Critical brain development occurs during a child’s earliest years, and it is crucial that children have access to books, reading experiences, and other literacy activities. That’s why EPIC was proud to work with the Colorado Rockies and local UPS Stores to raise awareness on the importance of early literacy while collecting books and donations that will be distributed to early literacy partners in the Colorado Community.
Even as the COVID Delta variant continues to leave a great deal of uncertainty within Colorado communities, local UPS Store business owners across the state know there are children in need of books and opportunities to build their early literacy skills. During the month of September, customers visited UPS Store to drop off book or financial donations in exchange for Rockies tickets. Then, on September 26th, EPIC gathered with local UPS store volunteers, volunteer Marines and the Colorado Rockies, to culminate the book drive by collecting over $4,000 dollars to support early literacy in Colorado!! A big shout out to the volunteer Marines who donated their time for this cause and to the local UPS store owners.
When children have access to books and literacy supports, they can become successful readers and grow to contribute to our communities in the future. Since 2013, Colorado Business Reads, an EPIC initiative to increase awareness on the importance of early literacy, has led a statewide initiative to work with the business community to put books in the hands of Colorado’s early readers.
EPIC business leaders and their organizations, including the Colorado Rockies and The UPS Store, have been instrumental in supporting Colorado Business Reads that enable children to develop a love of reading in their most formative years. As an EPIC member, you can help provide early literacy resources to children in need while supporting local communities and employee engagement opportunities. By getting involved, volunteering, and donating books, more kids can develop crucial reading skills.
Become a member and learn more about EPIC’s partnerships with Reach Out and Read Colorado and Book Trust. You can also learn more and donate to Book Trust or Reach Out and Read Colorado.
