United Way seeks books to help stop the ‘summer slide’

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is hosting a collection drive for its annual Literacy Day of Action aimed at helping stop the “summer slide.” Donations of new or gently used books and other educational resources will be accepted through June 16.

Information about the collection drive is available at yourlocaluw.org/literacydayofaction.

Literacy Day of Action is an opportunity for donors to directly impact literacy in the community. Literacy is critical for a healthy society and the foundation of all learning. This year, United Way is hosting a drive to collect new or gently used books and other educational resources that children need during the summer months to help prevent “summer slide.”

The collected items will be distributed to neighbors in need via Murfreesboro City Schools’ Books on a Bus (BOB), Chow Bus and the Rutherford County Schools YMCA after school program.

“This year’s Literacy Day of Action will be dedicated to Dr. Linda Gilbert, who was Director of Murfreesboro City Schools and a tireless advocate for children’s education,” said Meagan Flippin, President and CEO of United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. “We commemorate her lifetime of service to students’ well-being, and we are proud to have worked side by side with her for many years to help improve the lives of children and families in our community. She will be deeply missed.”

The community can participate in the following ways:

Purchase items from the Amazon Wishlist to be shipped directly to United Way by June 16. Donate “gently used” books or purchase items from other retailers and deliver them to the United Way office: 3050 Medical Center Pkwy, 2nd Floor, Murfreesboro, TN. Sign up to serve as a collection site. Share information about this program on social media.

List of items needed (also see our Amazon Wishlist):

• Books pre-K – 6th grade
• Chapter books
• Dual language books
• Flash cards
• Workbooks of any kind/subject
• Coloring books
• Crayons
• Sidewalk chalk
• Index cards
• Glue sticks
• Paint/paint brushes

Items can be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, June 16, from noon to 4 p.m. A drive-through drop-off location will be set up in the parking lot. (3050 Medical Center Pkwy, Murfreesboro, TN).