Collier County children will have more books to read thanks to a book drive being conducted by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office coinciding with its third community art exhibition. Benefiting K is for Kids Foundation, a Naples-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to increasing children’s access to books in and out of school, the book collection will run alongside the K is for Kids “Power of the Word” art exhibition until June 2nd. The exhibit features art works by local middle school students and is a collaboration of the Foundation, Sheriff’s Office and art department of Collier County Public School District. The exhibit showcases works by local middle school students who were invited to visually express the power of words. Books collected will be distributed by K is for Kids to children who are most under served throughout Collier County. Housed in the Art Gallery on the second floor of the Records Office, visitors may drop off books for children and view the artworks through June 2nd, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3319 Tamiami Trail East, Bldg. J-1.
“Thanks to the wonderful support of Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and the Sheriff’s office, we’re not only showing kids just how exciting reading can be in this unique art exhibit by middle school ‘tweens and teens, we’re also placing more books into the hands of children who need them most,” said Karen Clawson, K is for Kids founder and executive director. “The drive has raised buckets of books already and we know the kids will be so excited to see them arrive. These kids too often do not have enough books to read; it’s a challenge faced by their families, teachers and schools.” K is for Kids collects books and raises the money to purchase new books for children all ages, from toddlers to teens, and donates them to their libraries, book nooks and shared reading environments in the schools, preschools, daycare centers, and after school programs. To see a list of the children and organizations receiving books, visit K is for Kids’ website at www.KisforKids.org or email [email protected].
“Often these kids’ only access to books is through their school libraries,” said Clawson. “Donating books to libraries and shared reading environments where one book can be read by dozens of children over many years is a smart way to feed their enthusiasm, the kids can have a “new” book to read almost every day