Big reads for 1,200 children in Mexico in 2021

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for all the support you have shown this project.  You have helped hundreds of kids in a dozen communities during this very challenging year.   

This year, we successfully distributed 500 books to children in February; we gave out 95 take-home summer camp kits and held in-person summer camp to 30 kids during two weeks (taking safety measures).   We also distributed food baskets for six months to families that have lost their primary source of income.  If you would like to hear the podcast, Colorin Colorado, please click here.

We recognize this has been a particularly challenging time for many people and for many non-profit organizations and we just want to thank you for continuing to support us.

We will soon be closing this project and starting a new fundraiser for our projects of 2022.  If you are a recurring donor, make sure your monthly contribution rolls over from this projec to the new one (if you wish to continue supporting, of course!).  The annual fundraiser will be September 14-18 so please mark your calendars.  During those five days, we will receive 50% in matching funds!

Thank you for helping hundreds of kids learn to love reading.  The power of books can be quite great and change a life forever so keep reading to the children in your life.  Gracias.

Daniela Franco

Dear supporters,

In February, thanks to your help, we purchased 650 copies of Juan Villoro's book, El Libro Salvaje.  This is the story of a young boy who is forced to spend his summer vacation with his uncle.  Expecting a summer of boredom, he is surprised to discover a magical library and ends up having a summer of adventure and developing a passion for books.  Juan Villoro is one of Mexico's most prolific and celebrated contemporary authors and El Libro Salvaje is a book for all ages.  If you are interested in reading this book (in Spanish), please message us. 

Due to the global pandemic, this year's Big Read event will be online.  Although there are disadvantages to an online event, the advantage is that people in different geographic areas can also take part.  Please email us at makingreaders@gmail.com if you are interested in attending the May 28 session with Juan Villoro. 

It is believed that school will resume in August and the our second Big Read of 2021 may be in person.  We shall see! If there is one thing we've learned in 2020, it's to be flexible and adapt :-)

Thank you for supporting this community project and for helping us spread the love of reading.  Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Daniela Franco

Links:

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Dear friends,

With children stuck at home and parents struggling to juggle work, home, and the education of their children, we need books in rural villages now more than ever!  

Though our popular 'Big Read' events are still postponed, we have been busy making sure that children can continue to learn and to develop the habit of reading.

We have inaugurated our first community center, located in a low-income neighborhood of Dolores Hidalgo.  The center is free, offers internet, a computer, printer, tv (for televised classes), tables, chairs and all materials needed for kids to complete their online assignments.  The center is supervised by an elementary school teacher and follows COVID-19 safety guidelines.  Children are at a great risk of dropping out of school and we hope to decrease that risk by making it easier for them to keep up with their online classes.

We also have 5 fully functional pop-up libraries which are actively in circulation.  Each one has about 170-200 books and spends about 3-4 months in a rural community.

Lastly, we continue to do food distributions because we know that food security is imperative. Distributions are made twice a month to families who have lost their sources of income.

If you would like to help out, we are looking for donations of books (preferably in Spanish), office supplies and art supplies. Email us to learn more:  makingreaders@gmail.com