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First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books to programs and schools serving children in need. Dedicated volunteers around the country (called First Book “Advisory Boards”) raise funds in their communities to provide brand-new books to local schools and programs, and YOU can be a part of that.

Learn New Skills

Volunteering with First Book means you can gain new skills, adding professional value to resumes and college applications. There are a wide range of skills that you can develop, including community outreach, partnership building, fundraising, event planning and grant writing.

Meet New People

When you volunteer, you get to meet new people who share the same interests. Volunteering can lead to networking opportunities or even new friends! You will have all kinds of things to talk about as you discuss why you decided to volunteer with First Book when meeting and interacting with fellow volunteers.

Community Ties

By volunteering your time with a First Book Advisory Board in your community, you are furthering First Book’s mission and getting books into the hands of kids in your local area.  Advisory Board members can impact the quality of education for local programs and classrooms by providing books and resources.

It’s Good For You

When you are looking for something new to do that’s good for you, volunteering keeps you busy and active. According to health and fitness website, Greatist.com, a past study has shown that “People who volunteered for selfless reasons and to create valuable relationships decreased the risk of mortality.” Not only does volunteering give you a sense of fulfillment, but also wellness.

You Make A Difference

If you offer your time and volunteer with First Book then you will be helping us get brand-new books into the hands of more kids in need. Together we can transform the lives of children in need and elevate the quality of education.

Find out more information about how you can volunteer with First Book by clicking here. 

The post Lose Ten Pounds & Get More Dates: Five Reasons to Volunteer with First Book appeared first on First Book Blog.

This week is National Volunteer Week … so be sure to take a moment to thank your friends and neighbors who volunteer their time and energy to improve the lives of the people in our communities.

First Book was founded twenty years ago on a volunteer model, and our national network of volunteers has grown ever since. Today, there are over 1,000 First Book volunteers in over 160 communities across the country, and we’re adding more all the time. First Book volunteers raise money to provide new books to local schools and programs serving kids from low-income families, and they help First Book’s national offices identify more schools and programs that need our help.

We’ve put a lot of new books into the hands of a lot of children in need in the last twenty years, and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers. Thank you!

Click here to learn more about volunteering with First Book.

First Book Advisory Boards (ABs) are committees of volunteers that implement the First Book mission in their local communities by raising money and providing books grants to programs that serve children in need.  Here are a few stories that highlight the great work being done by First Book Advisory Boards across the country.

First Book-Sussex Valley, NJ participated in a local community event and raised money to grant books to community children. During Second Saturday, a local fair in downtown Newton, New Jersey, the advisory board sold raffle tickets for a brown bear quilt to provide new books to Sussex County children.

First Book-Mahoning Valley, OH recently participated in the Austintown Library’s Princess party, a gathering for local girls that raised money for children’s programs at the library, and also created tiaras to give to the local hospital. First Book-Mahoning Valley provided copies of “Harold and the Purple Crayon” to attendees.

First Book- Clallam County, WA recently partnered up with the First Step Family Support Center’s Read First Program to provide books for a family pajama party night.  Attendees watched a free showing of “Charlotte’s Web” and each family received a new book to take home.

First Book is always seeking energetic, entrepreneurial volunteers to join our Advisory Boards or to help us start new ones.  If you’d like to get involved, please see the In Your Community section of the First Book website.

First Book Advisory Boards (ABs) are committees of volunteers that implement the First Book mission in their local communities by raising money and providing books grants to programs that serve children in need.  Here are a few stories that highlight the great work being done by First Book Advisory Boards across the country.

First Book-Erie, PA was recently highlighted for their work with another organization called Books for Kids to grant books to a local program.  “Odessa’s Place”, the recipient of the books, hosts a summer program for children in Erie.

First Book-Greater New Orleans announced they are accepting grant applications from local programs that are registered with First Book.  The Board also hosted a Get Hooked on Books event on August 6th.  The event included a book distribution, celebrity story readers, entertainment and refreshments.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation made awards to 10 literacy programs in Charles County, MD including First Book-Charles County to distribute books to children in need. Congratulations, First Book-Charles County!

To help kick off Philadelphia’s summer service challenge “Let’s Read, Let’s Move,” First Book is distributing 170,000 books to children from low-income families in Philadelphia. This further expands the presence of First Book in Philadelphia.  Last year, First Book-Philadelphia served 3,334 children in Philadelphia by providing 21,568 books.

First Book is always seeking energetic, entrepreneurial volunteers to join our Advisory Boards or to help us start new ones.  If you’d like to get involved, please see the In Your Community section of the First Book website.

First Book Advisory Boards (ABs) are committees of volunteers that implement the First Book mission in their local communities by raising money and providing books grants to programs that serve children in need.  Here are a few stories that highlight the great work being done by First Book Advisory Boards across the country.

Amy Neral represented the First Book-Mahoning Valley, Ohio Advisory Board recently on Live at Five, a local news program, in order to speak about the importance of literacy.  Mahoning Valley also helped ring in the summer with a Family Fun Day in order to raise money for First Book. Author Chris Yambar of Simpson’s Comics was present to sign autographs, while several vendors set up at the event with proceeds going to First Book-Mahoning Valley.

First-Book Trumbull County, Ohio put creativity back into fundraising when they hosted a Trunk Sale at a local church parking lot. Parking spaces that were sold to raise money for First Book-Trumbull County. Vendors could then park their car and load it up with saleable items.

First Book-Portland, Oregon was recently spotlighted in an article on OregonLive.com. The piece highlighted the great work done by First Book-Portland, including the Advisory Board’s recent grants of nearly $5,000 in book awards to four local recipient groups. Keep up the good work!

Board member Anthony Daniels recently represented the new First Book-North Alabama Advisory Board in a segment on WAAY31 TV. Daniels used his time on the air to talk about First Book and to encourage viewers to vote for Alabama in the Cheerios 100,000 Book Giveaway.  First Book-North Alabama is a great example of using local media to help further the mission of First Book.  They have received a lot of interest in their work from this article.

First Book is always seeking energetic, entrepreneurial volunteers to join our Advisory Boards or to help us start new ones.  If you’d like to get involved, please see the In Your Community section of the First Book website.

As First Book nears the end of our two-year U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Education grant, Andrea and I hit the road again last week  to continue to spread the magic of books throughout Maine.

After landing in Portland and having a marvelous lobster roll lunch, we set our sights on Augusta to host a Volunteer Orientation session to introduce new volunteers to our First Book-Kennebec County Advisory Board.  We saw some old friends at the Buker Community Center and met some new ones too!  In addition to strengthening our Board in Kennebec County, we’re looking forward to working with Rob Gordon of the United Way of Kennebec Valley and Troy Alexander of Augusta Schools to bring more books to the children of Augusta!

The next morning we had a beautiful drive, despite some rain, over to Bucksport.  Being particularly fond of small towns, I really enjoyed passing through the many coastal towns along the way.  In Bucksport, we met in the Town Council office with our good friend Marcelle and some others who are working to start a First Book Advisory Board.  We had a great discussion about the importance of books and reading and how First Book is a great resource for their community.  It’s clear they take their town motto Rich in Heritage, Looking to the Future to heart.

After a quick stop at the Bittersweet Gift Shop for some yummy treats for us and some Lupine flower seeds to send to my mom, we were back on the road heading north to Houlton.  In Houlton, we had the pleasure of meeting with our dear friend Otis and the First Book-Aroostook County Advisory Board. We heard a wonderful presentation about how Houlton Elementary School is incorporating books from First Book into their family literacy festivals.  At the end of our meeting, we presented First Book-Aroostook County with a small token of thanks for over 10 years of serving children in need in Maine.  Otis then  presented us with The Boy with the Leaking Boot t-shirts which we will wear with fond memories of another great trip to Maine!

This year we are thrilled to recognize the 22 Advisory Boards that are reaching their five and ten year anniversaries. Please join us in congratulating the following Boards for their significant achievements and contributions to the First Book family!

5 Year Anniversary
Berea College, Madison County, KY
Union College, NE
University of Cincinnati- Raymond Walters College
Heritage University, WA
University of Georgia
Boise State University, ID
University of Rhode Island
Western New England College, MA
Tacoma, WA
Thurston County, WA
Blair County, PA
Woodlawn, OH
Central Savannah River Area, GA
Dumas, AR
University of Pittsburgh, PA
Rhodes College, TN

10 Year Anniversary
Hood River County, OR
Horry County, SC
Dallas, TX
Pensacola, FL
Prince George’s County, MD
Camden County, NJ