WHAT IS RAISING A READER:

Raising a Reader is a national award-winning early childhood literacy program which helps families develop, practice and maintain home literacy routines.

The Raising a Reader program is managed locally by the SLO County Office of Education in pre-schools throughout our county, currently serving 45 sites providing preschool/early learning programs.

The Raising a Reader fund is held at and managed by The Community Foundation of SLO County.

Local donors (including The Monday Club) contribute to The Community Foundation, which then provides Raising a Reader funding to the County Office of Education.

RAISING A READER SLO COUNTY   |   RAISING A READER NATIONAL   |   RAR Information Slideshow (pdf)

HOW IT WORKS:

Raising a Reader in classrooms includes a teacher-parent meeting, introducing the families to the program and engaging them to support their child’s reading readiness and family “book cuddling,” creating brighter futures.

Raising a Reader book bags – containing 4 books – go home with each child every week, and are rotated each time so children and families see different books each week.

WHAT WE DO:

The Monday Club Raising a Reader Committee:

• Raises money to donate $5,000 annually to The Community Foundation. Our donations are critical to the ongoing sustainability of the program in our county.
• Holds annual book drives in April, May and June for community members to donate new or “gently-loved” books:
• • Multicultural, in English, Spanish and Bilingual
  • For children from infancy to age 9 (3rd grade) - board books up to early reader chapter books
• Gives books to families by coordinating with SLO County Food Bank to attend distribution sites throughout the county. Collections and donations have topped over 10,000 books since 2021!
• Delivers books to multiple Food Pantries, ECHO Homeless Shelters, and other organizations serving families throughout the county.
• Volunteers in Pre-K classrooms, reading to children and organizing book bags for distribution.
• Prepares books and “stuffies” for delivery to local hospital pediatric wards.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• Donate new or gently used children’s books to our book drives
• Make a cash donation (DONATE HERE) to support our mission.
  (Your donations to the Monday Club Raising a Reader Committee are tax deductible)
• Support our See’s Candies Fundraisers online at Christmas and Easter.
  
  ORDER SEE'S CANDY ONLINE TODAY!
  
  Shop for all your favorite See's Candies offerings, like one- and two-pound boxes of See's creamy, buttery, crunchy, crispy light and dark chocolates, as well as lollipops, mints, peanut brittle and more. Holiday-themed gifts are available too, and Raising a Reader receives 20% of the profits. December 6th is the last day to order.