REGISTER HERE

Bernie’s Book Bank serves children (ages birth-6th grade) by giving eight free books each year to help them build their at-home library. For the 2024-25 school year, we are partnering with 60 MPS schools that will receive a new bag of age-appropriate, quality books once a year.

Activities

Volunteers will be sorting used books into age-appropriate categories and placing an identifying sticker on each book that will later be bagged and distributed in MPS schools. This will require standing and/or sitting at a table and moving books from box to box.

Impact

Kids will make a direct impact on other children their age by preparing books that will go right into the home of a child who needs one.

Reading is one of the most important skills a child needs, yet a study done by Reading Literacy in the U.S. showed that 61% of low-income families have no books in their homes for their children. This is a solvable problem! Bernie’s Book Bank focuses on under-resourced communities—where children are the least likely to have access to books of their own—and delivers age-appropriate, high-interest, and culturally
relevant books children deserve.

When & Where

January 20 from 4:30-6 p.m.

Ivy House

906 S. Barclay St. Milwaukee WI 53204

There is onsite parking in the adjacent lot with the “Enjoy the Journey” mural. Street parking is also available.

Registration Information

Participants: 50 people

Age: All ages are welcome – although this opportunity is typically easiest for 4-year-olds and older.

Cost: Free event. Opportunities to donate to the Milwaukee expansion campaign will be available onsite.

Materials: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as you will be on your feet most of the time.

Questions: Please email [email protected] with any questions

Cancellations: We count on our registered volunteers to make these projects come to life. However, we understand illness and emergencies do come up so if you can no longer participate, please email [email protected] ASAP so we can fill your spot.

Our Partner

Bernie’s Book Bank was founded in 2009 in Chicago, with the intent to build an American Institution – a metropolitan-based children’s book bank model that was effective, efficient, sustainable, and scalable – doing everything we do with excellence. Milwaukee is the first site of expansion.

Bernie’s Book Bank envisions a future where every child has equal access to books and the opportunities they inspire. With the generosity of partners and volunteers, Bernie’s Book Bank enables positive life experiences through books and book ownership.

In January, Bernie’s Book Bank is launching a campaign for Milwaukee to double the amount of children we serve and establish a book processing facility and volunteer center by the end of 2025.

For more information, visit their website.