Since our inception in 2018, Maureen’s Readers has given thousands of books to children in memory of Maureen Wavrin. Our purpose remains to promote reading and we have found a variety of ways to accomplish this. We especially aim at ways to get books in the hands of kids that may not otherwise get books to call their own. Studies have shown that having books in the home relates to a variety of successful outcomes for children. Kids get excited when they get a book to call their own!
This excitement is evidenced through our contact with teachers we work with and the Thank You cards we receive.
Give to the Max Day this year is Thursday, November 18th. We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the things we have been involved with and offer you ways to help support us.
What we’ve been up to
- The aftermath of George Floyd’s death on May 20, 2020 left neighborhoods in South Minneapolis in disarray. Families were displaced as a result of the violence and destruction that occurred. Trinity Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis became a hub where families could go on a daily basis to receive food and other basic living necessities. Maureen’s Readers participated by giving books to the children that came with their parents.
- Maureen’s Readers has worked with school districts that become involved with weekend and/or weekly summer food distribution to at risk students. We are currently involved with distributing books along with the food in two school districts.
- The earlier a child gets exposed to books, the better. Maureen’s Readers is excited about recently partnering with a school district’s Early Childhood Family Education and Head Start program to provide books for child to call their own.
- Maureen’s Readers will be providing books for incarcerated young mothers and fathers to read to their visiting children. This can serve as a great bonding experience.
- Maureen’s Readers has provided sets of books to classroom teachers. A combination of classroom activities center around these books. One teacher used the book “The Watsons Go to Birmingham” for a unit during Black History month.
- Maureen’s Readers has provided vouchers during Scholastic Book Fairs so that every child could get a book and not be left out.
- Maureen’s Readers provides annual funds to a school to update their library inventory.
- Maureen’s Readers continue to support a children’s book author/illustrator from Minneapolis whose first book “Make it a Good Day” has a timely message for young (and old) alike. We particularly like that the author visits children in schools and other venues for a reading and a participation art project. Very special! Many of her student contacts are at risk and/or underserved.
- Maureen’s Readers continue to look for opportunities to foster interest in reading and developing reading skills among children. From feedback we receive, we feel we are making a difference one book at a time.
You can be part of these efforts by supporting us. You can find information on our Web site about ways to donate. We also appreciate shares on social media. Click that share button!
Maureen's Readers 