Volunteers at New Threads of Hope, 3001 N. 112th St., sort through stacks of books that will be donated this summer. (Photo by David La Haye)
School’s out for summer.
To Megan Byrne Sandberg, director of development for New Threads of Hope, an area non-profit, that means kids are dropping their backpacks and picking up remotes.
As a result, valuable knowledge gained over the school year will be lost over the extended summer break, she said.
New Threads, located at 3001 N. 112th St. in Wauwatosa but primarily serving Milwaukee’s central city, started out distributing new clothes, shoes and other household items to the poor, and began distributing books four years ago.
The organization is working to combat the problem widely referred to as the “summer slide.”
Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in math over the summer, and low-income students lose more than that in reading, according to the National Summer Learning Association.
“One reason is a lack of books at home,” Byrne said. That’s why the organization launched the literacy initiative, “New Books for New Achievement.”
The organization recently donated 25,000 books that children will be receiving at summer meal programs in Milwaukee. Most of the books New Threads distributes are overstock, and provided through a partnership with First Book, located in Washington D.C., and other local partners. The initiative was made possible by a $15,000 donation from the Faye McBeath Foundation and $5,000 from the United Way of Greater Milwaukee.
Book donations will number more than 100,000 by the time the 2014 initiative is complete.
New Threads partners with children’s centers, literacy programs and schools to distribute the books. One of those partners is the Hmong American Peace Academy (HAPA), 4601 N. 84th St. According to Lisa Attonito, director at HAPA, the donation helped the school’s library, generated buzz for a book drive and put much-needed books in the hands of kids.
“It was a special opportunity, as many children have very limited family resources, and to have a book of their very own is very inspiring and something that is cherished,” Attonito said.
Dear sir/ Madam
Please donate books to Nepalese people.
I am Sudhir dhungana the founder of ‘Gyan jyoti foundation Nepal I have establish this foundation donate books to schools, collages & community library, women education & literacy classes ,senior citizen club, drug & alcohol rehab center ,orphan home for the help of needy students / persons for their library
My organization has started to collect old & used books by local donor since the last four year I have been donating books to other institutions for the students / persons who cannot afford to buy new books to study.
Books are the first keys to knowledge and donating books is our way to share our success with the society and, a public library like mine is a great place to make them easily accessible for all the needy students.
I thank you in anticipation for considering our request for donating books for the sake of Needy students/persons Together, can make their lives much easier and better. If you have any queries about our organization or our work, please contact me.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
Sudhir dhungana (gyan jyoti foundation Nepal)
Tel. +977-9841342981
Email.gyanjyoti158@gmail.com