PORT ANGELES — Looking for a safe way to get books into the hands of locals, particularly children, the United Way of Clallam County’s Literacy Council has launched a new fundraiser.
The council jump-started the fundraiser by donating $1,000 to both Port Book and News and Odyssey Bookstore in Port Angeles. Books are to be distributed equally to five participating nonprofits: Mariposa House, First Step Family Support Center, Olympic Community Action Programs’ Head Start, Peninsula Behavioral Health and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
The community is invited to call their bookstores of choice and donate to the general book fund or to a specific agency, United Way representatives said. Payments can be made over the phone, or checks can be mailed.
The stores will then work with the agencies to pick out books for their clients.
“Literacy is one element of education that never has to be put on hold,” literacy council chairwoman Philomena Lund said. “We have the opportunity to touch our community while boosting the economy through books.”
Lund has been busy packing and distributing books around Clallam County for the past several weeks.
Children are now able to get a book with their school lunches at local food distribution centers in Sequim and Port Angeles, and, most recently, books have been shipped to the Quileute Tribe, as travel is not an option and libraries are closed.
The Literacy Council’s mission is to increase literacy in Clallam County by providing new books to children.
“Sometimes our lives get so busy with doing and going that there is little time for getting lost in the pages of a book,” Lund said. “Kids at home with lots of free time seems like the perfect atmosphere to help children discover how much fun reading can be.”
Donations can be made over the phone or mailed to Port Book and News (360-452-6367), 104 E. First St., Port Angeles, WA 98362; or Odyssey Books (360-457-1045), 114 W. Front St., Port Angeles WA 98362.
For more information about the Clallam Literacy Council, visit www.unitedwayclallam.org or call 360-457-3011.
