Wollongong MP Paul Scully is calling on the community to donate their beloved books to support other young readers. Photo: Wollongong Electoral Office.
Young students and children in Wollongong will be able to explore the worlds within stories while building on crucial learning skills, with an annual book drive returning for another year to help put donated tales in front of eager eyes.
It’s been nearly a decade since Wollongong MP Paul Scully saw a need in his community for a simple item that was causing some kids to fall through the cracks in their education.
“It came from a discussion with a school principal who said one of the big challenges they had in the youngest years of schooling is that the large holiday break over Christmas and summer, a lot of kids went backwards in their literacy levels because they didn’t have books at home,” Minister Scully said.
The initiative started with purchasing a couple of hundred books from the store, but now with the support of the community, the annual event has seen thousands of books donated, with nine schools benefitting from the drive last year.
“A lot of kids bring in books that they’ve outgrown, and their brothers and sisters have outgrown, and they want to contribute so that someone else can read them,” Minister Scully said.
“A lot of grandparents take the opportunity to clean out the bookshelf and a lot of other people go out and buy the exciting new titles that are trending among that age group at the moment.”
The books benefit readers in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2.
“I remember former University of Wollongong vice-chancellor Paul Wellings telling me one day that households where there’s a bookshelf at least, even if it doesn’t have many books on it, if there’s a bookshelf, the kids of that household are more likely to go into tertiary education than those who don’t have one.
“A really simple thing that has lifelong consequences, so the idea of getting books into kids’ hands is really important.”
While for some families a book may be a straightforward purchase, for other children the simple gift can bring immense joy.
“It’s really exciting and the kids love it,” Minister Scully said.
“The huge smiles on their faces, the idea that they’ve got this book that they can take home, they don’t have to bring it back to the library.
“They all agree that they’re going to share it with their friends and their siblings and they’re going to read it.
“There’s something genuine in all of the kids receiving them which is fantastic.”
Now in its ninth year, Minister Scully hopes that even more children can experience the gift of lifelong learning that books can bring and is calling on the community to help by donating new or good-quality used children’s books or book vouchers which can go to children across the electorate.
“My annual book drive gives our community a simple way to make a lifelong difference to hundreds of children,” he said.
“A donated book can inspire curiosity, build confidence and encourage a lifelong love of reading.
“If you can help get more books into the hands of local children with a donation of a new book, good-quality used one or a book voucher it would be a welcome contribution.”
Donations can be dropped off at the Wollongong Electorate Office, located at G2, 51 Crown Street or at Wests Illawarra.
Those unable to visit either location can contact the Wollongong office to arrange an alternative collection option.
Donations will be accepted until 13 November.
