REGISTER HERE
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 ages birth-6th grade are the least likely to have access to books of their own. Bernie’s annually delivers eight age-appropriate, high-interest, and culturally relevant books to help kids build an at-home library. In 2024-25, they partnered with 60 MPS schools!
Activities
Volunteers will be checking books for quality (separating out those with tears or loose binding), 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.
Feel free to bring a new or gently used book to donate and give the gift of reading!
Impact
Our kids will make a direct impact on other children by spreading the joy of literacy and helping prepare the books that kick start home libraries for students across the Greater Milwaukee area.
Access to books is critical! Bernie’s Book Bank conducted a five-year randomized controlled trial and found that students attending schools that receive its books achieved statistically significant reading gains relative to their counterparts in control schools!
When & Where
Tuesday, November 10 4-5:30 p.m.
Bernie’s Book Bank
5235 N Ironwood Road Glendale, WI 53217
Park in the parking lot on the side of the building. Enter the main front doors.
Registration Information
Participants: 20 volunteers
Age: All ages are welcome
Cost: Free to attend. Optionally – bring a gently used children’s book to donate to Bernie’s Book Bank.
Materials: Close toe shoes recommended
Questions: Email linnea@kicmke.org with any specific 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 linnea@kicmke.org ASAP so we can fill your spot.
Our Partner
Bernie’s Book Bank was founded in 2009 in Chicago and today has hand-delivered over 31 million free, high-quality books. Their model allows them to source, process and distribute eight books every year to children from birth to sixth grade so they can have a home library of their very own and always have a book within reach. In 2018, Milwaukee became their first site of expansion. They officially opened a brand new warehouse here in October 2026.
For more information, visit their website.