Right now, thousands of families in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota are not getting the medical care and early learning support that they rely on to help their young children thrive. Recent violence and uncertainty has left many families feeling too unsafe to leave their homes for work, school, shopping, and even medical care. Our clinic partners, as well as the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, have reported serious drops in attendance, especially among clinics serving large immigrant populations.
However, as we Minnesotans know well, when the hard times show up, so do the good people. People from Minnesota and all across the country are finding new and creative ways to support our neighbors in need. Reach Out and Read Minnesota has a role to play as well.
While the Reach Out and Read program typically happens in the exam room, we're currently working to partner with clinics and other nonprofits to bring books and early learning materials directly to families homes. With support from the Reach Out and Read National Center, and generous donations from our partners at All About Books, Barefoot Books, and Scholastic, we're aiming to provide thousands of books (like those below) alongside activity books and early learning information (available in English and Spanish) to families who need our support in Minnesota.
We've already received some generous donations of supplies, but we still need the help of our community to help make this project happen. A donation in any amount will support our team's efforts to get these books out quickly and efficiently to the families who need them.
Will you help us bring books and early learning supplies to the homes of Minnesota families who need our support?
If you are interested in donating books or volunteering to support this effort, please contact:
Eleanor GrandPre, Program Coordinator: eleanor@reachoutandreadmn.org
If you have questions about this project or want to explore other ways to support this effort, please contact:
Liam Mackin, Communications and Development Manager: liam@reachoutandreadmn.org
P.S. This project is just a small part of the many powerful ways people in Minnesota and around the country are responding to these challenging circumstancs. We encourage you to also look into and support other efforts that resonate with you. This list from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is a great place to start!
