United Way Hosts 14th Children’s Book Drive

The Children’s Book Drive is a collaborative effort between United Way of Rhode Island and Books Are Wings to engage local businesses, community organizations, individuals, and families in fostering a love of reading, while encouraging children to build their own libraries at home.

This will be our fourteenth year collecting books. Over the past eleven years, we’ve put 390,000 books into the hands of children statewide.

This year’s Book Drive will take place in April and May, ending just in time for summer learning. Individual collections can run for any length of time during April and May – a few days, a few weeks, or an entire month.

Children who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school than proficient readers, profoundly affecting their future earnings.

Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) 2023–2024 Grade 3 data reported that only 30% of all students met or exceeded expectations in Reading skills. Among students from under-resourced households, it was 17%. By race, 44% of white students, 18% of Black students, 17% of Hispanic students, and 12% of Native American students met or exceeded expectations.
Source: RIDE, www3.ride.ri.gov/ADP#

Children in under-resourced families have fewer reading materials and for many, there are zero books in the home. Early access to books is critical to successful reading development and summer reading can help close the reading achievement gap.

Book Pick-Up Day is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026. We will pick up your books when your drive ends. Let us know how many books you’ve collected, and we’ll schedule a pick-up time. Contact bookdrive@unitedwayri.org.

Day of Action is a worldwide United Way event, offering volunteer opportunities focused on the work of local United Way organizations. In Rhode Island, the Day of Action will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at from 10am to 2pm at Waterfire Arts Center located at 475 Valley Street, Providence  sort, label, and prepare the books for distribution to children in summer learning and afterschool programs. Contact volunteer@unitedwayri.org to volunteer.

New and gently used books for children — from babies to Grade 5 — are welcome. We are NOT able to accept books for adults, reference books, textbooks, workbooks, cookbooks, discarded library books, or mildewed/damaged books.

Companies can give employees the option to order books through Amazon or a local bookstore. Employees can choose one of their favorite books or order from https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/JVEDY9GD1PG1/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex and have them shipped directly to us.

Copy paper boxes with lids are ideal — they’re eco-friendly, free, and stackable for easy storage.

Books will be distributed at Books Are Wings programs and summer partner sites. To learn more about United Way’s education priorities, please visit www.unitedwayri.org.

We have customizable posters and FAQs for posting, sharing, and decorating your collection boxes. To register and obtain the materials, contact bookdrive@unitedwayri.org.