First of all, thank you to all the donors who helped us raise $464 through the Mountain Xpress’s Give!Local program on Giving Tuesday last week! we are very grateful for your support of our mission. That brings us up to $648 or 21% of our $3,000 budgetary goal for 2016.
The POP Project is 100% privately funded and 100% volunteer run. That means every dollar given goes directly to our programmatic and administrative needs. Further, every dollar donated translates to $10 in books donated to men, women, and children in our community. We believe that a greater access to books drives an increase in literacy, which in turn boosts self esteem, improves economic autonomy, and allows individuals to better contribute to the workforce.
In a community like ours, where 1 in 10 adults in Buncombe County cannot read at a basic level and 24% of children are living in poverty, that boost in access can translate into a world of difference.
Our greatest rewards are when we see the books we deliver change someone’s day. Over the years, we’ve received a number of success stories demonstrating the impact our books have made to programs, students, clients, and communities across Western North Carolina. This moment happened last spring:
“Have no doubt your work and wonderful books are changing lives. Today, a mom brought her autistic son to the market. He has never come in before. She brought him late so that he would not become upset. He found a chalkboard and wandered/darted about a bit until I realized that the books had already been put away for the day.
“I asked this disconnected boy if he liked books, and he quickly nodded and made eye contact. We pulled out the children’s books we still have (only a dozen or so) and I gave him a bag to put his choices in. Mom plopped down beside him and they carefully examined the books and selected the ones he liked. He left with a smile on his face – and a big smile on Mom’s face. His first trip into our church and to the market was a success!
“This mom works hard and struggles to meet daily needs. These new books for her child were a wonderful gift! Thank you!”
—Jan Ianniello
Coordinator, Free Community Meal and Market, Candler
Help the POP Project Raise $3,000 by December 31
Our partnership with the Free Community Meal and Market in Candler began a little less than a year ago, but has clearly made an impact on local families during that short time so far.
Please help sustain POP through 2016 so that we can continue taking children’s books, adult fiction, history, and cookbooks to the Candler market, as well as growing our reach across the region.
Make your donation today! If just 100 people gave $30, we could reach our goal.
CLICK BELOW AND DONATE NOW!
