Give Kids a Story To Remember

Isha Patel is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Bernie's Book Bank.

Tax deductible

Once upon a time, a girl’s parents gave her a set of fairytale books. She gasped at the sight of the colorful and inviting covers and eagerly reached with her sweaty little hands, ready to dive into the crisp, fresh pages. She flipped through the magical stories, enchanted by the world of fairy godmothers and poisoned apples. She climbed up the beanstalk with Jack and ate porridge with Goldilocks. Three hours had flown by when her mom called her down to dinner. Though she had just started, she instantly sparked an insatiable hunger for the magic of books.

That little girl is me.

I have had the opportunity to browse through a diverse selection of stories, from heartwarming tales of friendship to spine-tingling mysteries. Yet, many families can’t afford to buy books, leaving thousands of children deprived of the comfort and adventures that other children can access at their fingertips. These children miss out on the joy of reading, as well as the chance to understand the world around them, build social-emotional skills, and jumpstart their cognitive development.

The average middle-class family owns around 13 books, yet there is only one book for every 300 children in Chicago’s underprivileged areas. While I had the privilege of expanding my vocabulary and developing skills like critical reading through books, thousands of kids are denied the essential skills of perseverance, empathy, and knowledge that thrive when reading.

You have the power to make a difference in a child's life. Bernie’s Book Bank collects, processes, and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among under-served infants, toddlers, and school-age children throughout Chicagoland. When you give up one day’s worth of coffee and contribute to Bernie’s mission, you will shower children with so much more than reading materials. You are providing them the opportunity to reimagine the world and explore their imagination and individuality.

For every 2 dollars you donate, you will add a book to an underprivileged child’s personal library and bring magic into their life. I strive for a brighter future for all children, and I encourage you to join me in the fight to close the childhood literacy gap.