Reading Solutions – May 2019

You really can put wheels on your books. Bus drivers are ready to deliver your donated books on the road to Anthony, Chaparral and Sunland Park.

The Red, Turquoise and Purple routes are reviving the spirit of old time book mobiles. Bus patrons are invited to browse the books as they ride and take home any that they would like to read.

David Armijo, Director of South Central Regional Transit District (SCRTD) says “I’m always happy to find new ways to help people make connections.”

Transit Supervisor Leticia Lopez, CRA volunteer Ada Moranescu, and a friendly team of bus drivers are keeping books moving. Each bus is equipped with a large container of new and gently used books supplied by Children’s Reading Alliance.

Even if you don’t ride the bus there are opportunities for book sharing scattered across Las Cruces. Outdoor book cabinets, often called Little Free Libraries or Book Casitas are located outside of homes and businesses. Anyone can take or leave a book. Two new Book Casitas are located on the grounds of Aprendamos in Las Cruces and Anthony. Laura Elmquist is keeping them stocked with children’s books supplied by Three Rivers Educational Foundation.

Summer Time and the Reading is Easy

The end of school signals summer reading season. Children’s Reading Alliance is ready with 17,000 books.  As we have done for the past eight summers, CRA volunteers will be providing entertaining children’s literature to keep kids reading all summer. Over 10,000 books will go to struggling readers in Las Cruces during LCPS K3+ classes in July. An additional 7,000 books will be distributed in Anthony, Hatch, Sunland Park, and Chaparral. These books are made possible by your donations and through funding from The Stocker Foundation, the Devasthali Family Foundation, Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation, El Paso Electric Company, Rio Grande Rotary Club of Las Cruces, and Kappa Kappa Gamma.

All of our programs continue to grow through donations. Our community continues to find clever ways to make sure we are Raising Readers Together. Some local groups have gotten quite creative. In March, Salud de Mesilla gave free desserts to diners who donated a book at the restaurant. Onate High School Marching Band allowed books to substitute for entrance fees for their concerts. Mary Martha Circle at First Presbyterian collected books and is helping prepare them for distribution. Members of National Society of Speech, Language and Hearing Association at NMSU have been helping to process the books. Members of the Rio Grande Rotary Club of Las Cruces and their Satellite Club have collected over 500 books and are volunteering to stamp, pack, deliver and to read books to children.

Your support is welcome. Drop off gently used books at the Children’s Reading Alliance, 3880 Foothills Road, Las Cruces 88011.  Donations can be made through our website childrensreadingalliance.org or sent directly to CRA.  For volunteering contact Maria Zuniga at mariazuniga345@gmail.com or at (575) 522 3713. In addition to our volunteer projects we are accepting nominations for Board positions.  Contact Rorie Measure at rmeasure@gmail.com  for more information.