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(ALLENTOWN, PA) – Lehigh Valley Reads and the Allentown Rescue Mission have partnered to bring
children’s books into the homes of local families. Lehigh Valley Reads, a regional campaign operated by PBS39 and the United Way, aims to ensure all Lehigh Valley students read on grade level by the end of third grade by 2025. The Allentown Rescue Mission’s Books to the Rescue program collects book donations to promote literacy and learning for children that lack sufficient at-home resources. The program also benefits the men of the Allentown Rescue Mission who collect and organize the donated books for distribution, enabling them to give back to the community that has generously blessed them.
The Allentown Rescue Mission recently made its second donation of books to Lehigh Valley Reads, bringing its total contribution to approximately 900 books. Lehigh Valley Reads presents each family it assists with 10 books to start an in-home library. These libraries help children expand their vocabulary and reading comprehension. With its donations, the Allentown Rescue Mission and Lehigh Valley Reads can provide 90 deserving families with resources to aid in future academic success.
“Lehigh Valley Reads is committed to ensuring as many families as possible have books at home. Book donations are the life force of our building home libraries initiative and partners like the Allentown
Rescue Mission are helping us to move the needle on literacy one child at a time”, stated Angela Zanelli, Lehigh Valley Reads Campaign Director.
Additionally, the Allentown Rescue Mission has provided over 1,300 books to local elementary schools.
The donations allow teachers to send books home with students for continued learning or strengthen the school’s library.
To learn more about Lehigh Valley Reads and the Allentown Rescue Mission, please visit https://lehighvalleyreads.org/ and https://www.allentownrescuemission.org/, respectively.
The Allentown Rescue Mission, a 501c3, 123 bed non-profit homeless shelter has been providing shelter for homeless men since 1900. In addition to emergency shelter services (365 days a year), the Allentown Rescue Mission offers a residential life skills program, and transitional employment on the Clean Team
that’s available for hire to the community. The Clean Team pays the men above PA state minimum wage– helping them save a nest egg to transition back into the community. In a typical year, the Allentown Rescue Mission provides shelter services for over 946 men per year, and serves over 42,000 meals a year to men in need.
To refer someone to the Allentown Rescue Mission for services or to learn ways you can help make a difference please visit www.allentownrescuemission.org
Information provided to TVL by:
Stefanie Appel
Community Relations
Allentown Rescue Mission
www.allentownrescuemission.org
