Since 1989, the charity Reach Out & Read has distributed millions of books to children of those less fortunate. The charity provides books as well as literacy help to over four million families in the United States.

“It’s a program where people donate new or used books to the hospitals that take care of patients that come into get free care” said Nicole Sutherland, English teacher and coordinator of  Reach Out & Read at Antioch Community High School. “Every child that comes in they get to take a book home with them, because these children don’t usually have any books in the home.”

Reading is a necessity for everyone. It helps you learn, it helps you grow. Reach Out & Read’s vision is to “reach” to children who may not get the materials or guidance when it comes to literature.

“Reading children’s books is such an important part to anybody’s future. That without that foundation of knowledge, linguistics of hearing something out loud, your missing a huge part of your education without even stepping into Kindergarten,” said Sutherland. “They are at a huge disadvantage of they do not have books in their home.”

ACHS students were able to donate books up until March 20.