Our Mission
It is well-documented that disadvantaged children hear on average about 30 million fewer words by the age of 3 than children in communities such as ours. This serious disparity affects later language development, reading readiness and, ultimately, school success. In a recent NYTimes article, Perri Klass addressed two recent studies on this very topic. With this in mind and knowing our children have countless opportunities to be enriched here in our community through after-school programs, library and other activities, the idea for The Little Red Wagon Library was born. We are a non-profit mobile library and literacy program, providing at-risk daycare children with greater access to books in the community right next door.
How We Help
Our plan is simple: to sponsor a weekly story-time at various daycare centers in Lawrence, which will be followed by an enrichment/literacy activity and an opportunity for each child to borrow 1-2 books until the following week, and so on. The story-times will be conducted by volunteers, be it area moms or middle school and high-school students looking to do community outreach. We are a 501(c) organization and are writing a grant for a bookmobile to go into service next summer in partnership with local sponsors.
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