PoWeR! Book Bags is such a wonderful organization! With it's mission, to "increase children's experiences with language, literacy and human interactions..." my husband and I select and transport beautiful books and delightful literacy book bags to children at a food and baby pantry on a regular basis. We continually hear feedback that the children absolutely love choosing their own books to have, hold and read over and over again. Additionally, the literacy bags provide countless opportunities for parents and caregivers to develop so many literacy skills that will help lay the foundation for future success. PoWeR! Book Bags provides all of these books and bags free to 116 sites in 25 counties. Grants, sponsors and donations support this excellent endeavor. Please consider making a donation today!
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As a former children's librarian and elementary teacher, I was excited to get involved with Power Book Bags following my retirement. I couldn't believe there was an organization that provided beautiful, high quality books and literacy materials to children of all ages! And not just once but multiple times during the year. I have seen the children's faces as they self select a book to keep, take home, and read over and over again. The joy and excitement is contagious! My husband and I have "adopted" a food pantry and deliver 500 Power books every month to grateful parents and children. We love the small part we play in this fabulous organization and can't say enough good things about Power Book Bags. Children and books-it doesn't get much better than that!
I learned about Power Book Bags a few years ago through a woman named Norma Anderson in my town. She had a workshop to make bags for kids. I made seven bags that day. As time went by I made more bags. Then the woman who I volunteered with at the Lakeshore Food Club who was taking care of the books and bags there passed away suddenly. I told the book bag people I would take that over from her and I've been doing it ever since. I have made hundreds of bags and put out thousands of books over the last two or three years I think it's such a great program. I love the fact that the kids get NEW books, not someone else's discards.
For several years I had worked as a volunteer at our church Food Pantry.
One day when I showed up for work I was surprised to find a bookcase filled with children's books, a hall tree bedecked with brightly colored bags and a sign that read "PoWer Books". Obviously I needed some answers to this!
I was given a briefing about how it works and the pantry opened for business.
One of our first customers was a mom with a young son of about 6 years. He was as fascinated by the books as I had been! I explained to him about the books while mom shopped. His eyes got huge and he said "You mean I get to keep the book? I have never had a book of my own!"
"Yes," I answered, "And the next time you come to the pantry you can select another book to keep!"
Well, he was hooked and so was I!
As a retired teacher I was well aware of the importance of reading to help a child expand their world. I just needed to know how I could get involved with this PoWer Books Organization and be of help to them.
As a POWer volunteer I now do whatever I can to ensure their future success.
Give a child a book and it can unlock their world!
PoWeR! Book Bags Is a great non-profit. My passion is literacy and introducing books to children. I want children to enjoy stories and characters they will return to often. Books build imagination, literacy, written expression, social interaction, and relationships with others. PoWer! Book Bags reaches children across Michigan and I love volunteering and being a part of this organization.
Jenny Banta
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I am a retired speech/language pathologist and love volunteering at PoWeR! Book Bags. My entire career was working with children ages birth to age 5 years and their caregivers in the home or child care environment. My passions are literacy, language development and empowering caregivers to read to their children, therefore, building play, reading, writing, communication, and social skills. PoWeR! Book Bag's mission to distribute free, new books to children supports an important need in under-served communities. By providing books to children and their caregivers, this non-profit is helping parents and children to connect and have healthy, interactive relationships. It also provides children with books of their own with wonderful pictures and stories. This builds their imagination, language skills, and joy for the written word and the stories they convey. I hope PoWeR! Book Bags continues to be an important resource in our communities, counties and school districts we serve.
PoWeR! does such important work for the families and children of Michigan! As literacy and learning rates fall, PoWeR! Is stepping in to help make better futures for our kids!
My most valued volunteer gig! Nothing better than inspiring kids to read, write, & play without a phone/computer.
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Perfect volunteer experience for this bibliophile! I help supply play, write, & read material to youngsters. And I get to handle, and read, some really great books of every genre! PoWeR! Book Bags is managed by people who are passionate about the lifelong skills acquired by reading. I am proud to support their efforts.
Before I joined PoWeR! Book Bags as a volunteer, I hadn't realized the vast scope of underserved children when it came to educational success when Play, Writing, and Reading were concerned. It's a joy to be part of this organization and the success it brings to kids (and their families).
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PoWeR Book Bags is an amazing organization that provides literacy materials to children in underserved areas here in northern Michigan.
As a volunteer to PowerBook Bags, I work alongside joyful people who share memories of their favorite books - as a child, at a particular holiday, with their own children. References to favorite authors, lines, images carry the conversation as we work either setting up a site or labeling books. It’s just fun
As a retired librarian, I know the power of reading, and the difference a love of books can make for youngsters. This amazing organization gives away books, writing materials, & finger puppets in literacy bags (many hand sewn by volunteers) to children all over Michigan and beyond. They work through food pantries, baby pantries, and schools to provide a path to literacy for thousands of children. The focus is on the power of play to promote reading and creativity. Children are able to CHOOSE books for their own bag, which is huge. This organization is volunteer-driven, and a source of community connection and pride for all involved. The positive impact on the lives of so many is a tribute to the founder and all the workers.
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The founder and all the volunteers with Power Book Bags work tirelessly to provide free books and writing/playing materials to children all over Michigan. The unique thing about this organization is that children get to choose their own books; not just once but multiple times, allowing them to build their own collection and enhance their relationship with literature. This organization has grown over the years to become a powerful force for improving literacy for many at risk children.
PoWeR! Book Bags does amazing work throughout Michigan to increase children’s experiences with literacy. They select high quality children’s books to distribute at food pantries and other sites of assistance. I have heard countless stories of how this nonprofit has sparked a joy of reading and writing for kids who would not otherwise have these experiences. PoWeR! Book Bags is essential to help set up children for better educational and life trajectories in our area.
I am so thrilled to work with PoWeR! Book Bags. The people are fun no matter what the project of the day is: putting PoWeR! stickers on each book, filling bags, or gathering books for classrooms. The kids love getting new books; the squeals are free. The literacy bags are filled with a composition book, 2 handmade booklets, 24-count Crayola crayons, a finger puppet and a bookmark.
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What fun we had at the Elks Halloween Party 2021: dancing to the music, gasping with delight and, frankly, being a bit afraid of some of the costumes! The kids all had a great time whether they were in costume or not. There were many games of varying skill levels and many people, kids and adults, cheering the participants on.
PoWeR! Book Bags was there giving away new books and hand-made bags to every child, from the very young boy to the big sisters. Some of the kids were fast at picking the book they really wanted. Other kids looked at several before making their choice. Included in the bags was a composition book with lined pages (great for writing your own story), 2 white paper booklets for making pictures to go with the story, a box of 24 crayons, a finger puppet, and a bookmark. There were many conversations that started with “but which one should I choose?” and ended with “Oh, I just love Superman or Curious George or Frozen or….” Well, you get the idea. Every child left with candy that may be gone by the end of the week and a book who’s influence could last for a life time. Giving new books to children that they get to choose for themselves is wonderful. I can confidently say we are "Empowering children to PLAY, WRITE, and READ today for a better tomorrow."
We began seven years ago at three pantries and have grown to serve over 20,000 children throughout 25 counties in mostly northern lower Michigan at over 100 sites where families and children in lower economic circumstances are already visiting: food and baby pantries, health departments, sites for family assistance, preschools and child care centers, Early Head Start, and elementary schools, We work with our community partners to provide resources to underserved children to promote and strengthen interactions through playing, writing, and reading. We are offering children so much more than just books. With the assistance of our community partners, we are helping children to experience more language and interactions which strengthens future abilities with reading, academics, social relationships, and life long economic success. Our volunteers come together to make the work happen and the sense of community is fabulous. It is thrilling to be part of this impactful organization!
PoWeR! Book Bags is an amazing program that is helping so many children in Michigan! I love how this program is built off of research on children and literacy, and you can really see how it impacts the children of tomorrow. I also love how the program not only benefits children-- but also the volunteers that give their time to help this wonderful cause. I've met so many great people in my community through PBB, and I know that each time I volunteer, I'm truly helping to make a difference for children.
PoWeR! Book Bags is a wonderful organization! From the books to the finger puppets to the writing supplies, the materials that they give to children are high-quality and intentionally-selected to help support great brain development. Kids really come first, and I love that about this program! I've been volunteering since the beginning!
This is a wonderful Nonprofit, everyone was so friendly and welcoming while I was volunteering. Their mission is one that I feel everyone can get behind. I would definitely volunteer here again in a heartbeat!
My department volunteers for this amazing organization every year! The creator is an amazing lady that has given so much of her time and life to this non-profit and it shows.
PoWeR! Book Bags is an outstanding nonprofit organization that positively impacts the lives of thousands of families in the state of Michigan. I am a retired teacher and have been volunteering with this organization for about 4 years. All of the people I have met put their hearts and souls into the work they do to create the bags which contain materials to support the reading and writing development of children. Much thought has been given to create a very comprehensive collection of materials (all necessary components of literacy) as puppets for oral language and games are included. I have witnessed the joy that children experience when they are engrossed in a book of their choice or when they are in the process of "writing" their own stories! These experiences are so powerful for children and are supported with PoWeR! Book Bags! I highly recommend this nonprofit organization!!
I have helped get Power Book by Bags ready to distribute to children in our schools. As a former elementary teacher I understand how wonderful these bags are for the students who receive them.
PoWeR Book Bags has been very generous in giving books to various groups in the community helping to ensure that all kids have books of their own promoting literacy in Otsego County.
As an Early Childhood Educator, I am so very impressed with the work that PoWeR! Book Bags continues to do! The numbers of children served, books delivered, schools and counties served, are all overwhelming! To know that the underserved children of these areas are being given the opportunity to acquire more literacy materials for their home and increase their chances of success later in life is encouraging and heartwarming!
This is a wonderful, well organized program that fills school libraries with wonderful books and also provides underserved children with book bags, books, finger puppets, crayons in several parts of upper Michigan. The people involved in this program work tirelessly writing grants and finding donations! Another year of great success!
Reading is vital to an informed society. PoweR! Book Bags helps open the door to children and their parents to stories which enhance imagination, enjoyment, and desire to read more. The personally made bags the children can keep offer additional kind message that people care about the child and the importance of reading. As an observer, it is inspiring to watch the many volunteers work efficiently in assembly line fashion to add books to each bag, and then send them out for volunteer delivery to a wide area of recipients.
As a volunteer for PoWeR Book Bags, I have been made aware of the many homes which lack books for their young children. PoWeR Book Bags provides not only a custom made bag, but provides crayons, finger puppets, a small book with blank pages for drawing or writing and a book they choose. Our group serves much of northern Michigan.
Being a volunteer at Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN), where neighbors who need assistance with food, economic support for outstanding bills, help with caring for their young children & food bags for school aged children, I have been in a position to distribute Power Book Bags. Handmade book bags in many different fabrics, are prefilled with crayons, a pad of paper, a lined note book & a finger puppet. Books, at all reading levels & topics are then available for a child to choose & take home. Children are delighted to choose a bag and book! This gift is intended to feed their imagination & love of reading.
A year ago, I was invited to join a group of women who gather weekly for 3 hours to create the fabric Power Book Bags. We have an assembly line cutting fabric, sewing, pinning handles, ironing & tagging bags. Just this week we completed 125 bags to be filled for distribution.
It is a special joy to help create these bags, that I then may distribute at LCN. I highly recommend Power Book Bags be considered as a Great Nonprofit!
PoWeR! Book Bags has been an essential partner to Leelanau County, Michigan and beyond! The Leelanau Township Library worked with PoWeR! Book Bags to provide free literacy to young patrons during programming, special events, and in the Little Free Library located in Northport, MI. Just one example of many is the collaboration with the Northport school district to provide themed books for a new afterschool science literacy program.
The thrill of a child given the opportunity to select a brand new book of their very own is priceless and studies show that children read more, understand more, and are more likely to continue reading when they have the opportunity to choose what they read. PBB adapted on the fly to the COVID-19 providing safe opportunities for volunteers and recipients to continue their work. GREAT EXPERIENCE each and every time!
Power! Books is such a great Program! The Elks have partnered with them to help get the word and books out for this wonderful Program. My ELks lodge is sponsoring 160 children through our local early head start program. It's been a blessing for us and this program to help distribute books to these children and this program. They are so happy. The quality of the books is spectacular, and we can't say enough about the staff and volunteers in Suttons Bay making this program successful. We have had several other Elks Lodges in the state participating in the program, and have gotten nothing but wonderful rave reviews from all involved. As a psychologist with experience with many children we know Literacy in Michigan is a severe problem, and this program is looking to put it's little dent (hopefully a big dent) in changing these children's lives and love for reading. Everything has been carefully thought out, the items in the bags are just amazing, and again this is an amazing program all the way around. They can use all the help they can get, and we hope to be able to expand and continue to grow and help fight the battle for literacy in MIchigan. Way to go POWER! BOOKS! Keep up the amazing work, and thanks for including us in this fantastic journey.
Passionate people, WONDERFUL community partner. Kara and her team think outside the box and are always willing to go above and beyond to get books in the hands of kids! From our first conversation about how our program could support distributing PoWeR! Book Bags, Kara said, 'you tell us what you can do and we'll find a way'! She has stood by that promise!
The Muskegon Elks teamed up with Power Book Bags couple years ago to help deluver books to the Muskegon Headstart program.
They have a great group of volunteers that are dedicated to helping get books into children's hands. It brings so much joy to be able to deliver books to these kids and see the joy on their faces reading the books they receive.
I first met Kara Gregory and her volunteers of PBB at an event at Traverse Heights Elementary during a Family Literacy Night. Her enthusiasm and that of her volunteers was tangible. They were playing a game in which winners would walk away with a handmade book bag with a book, composition paper, crayons and a finger puppet. I was there helping Read to Me, an early literacy resource for the community, in which Kara is a committed member. In a subsequent meeting with her and her grantwriter, Connie, I was again struck with their individual and group commitment to bring free literacy resources to all ages, and to offer those resources to those in multiple counties. They do so with modest resources themselves, and are constantly on alert to provide more to even more youngsters in more
locales. I look forward to future support and collaboration with her as she continues her mission. She is well-educated in effective early literacy strategies, and has the focus and energy to put those in place. I fully endorse her organization and am convinced she will only enhance and expand its effectiveness.
I volunteer at the Lake Shore Food Club in Ludington, Mi. Power Book Bags has a bookshelf with over 100 books on it and a clothes post with 18 hand sewed bags available for new members. It needs restocking weekly and so much fun seeing the children choose a bag and books when they visit. Wonderful way of getting books in families that come.
My experience with PoWeR! Book Bags is based on the community work I do with families that have very young children. I was thrilled to learn that my program was included to distribute the bags in the community. I had been working to provide at-home activities for parents to do with their children while our groups could not gather because of Covid. The bags were exactly the kind of thing I was seeking to provide in that they promoted healthy engagement between parent and child, a new age-appropriate book and open-ended writing materials.
I was so pleased I followed up with the founder to see if I could help her make new connections in my geographic area. That is when I learned that the program isn’t just for very young children but includes school-aged children as well. Frankly, it’s not so uncommon for young elementary students to have access to a new book, but in my experience, as children grow up those opportunities decrease dramatically. I love that PoWeR! Book Bags has found a way to provide these resources to older students as well.
I am blown away by what a small group of committed folks have done to both start and grow this project. It is an indication of both their passion and expertise as well as a felt need in the community. As of this writing, I am simply a grateful recipient of these bags with the honor of passing them along to the families with whom I work. However, I have been so impressed that I recently agreed to sit on an advisory board, believing this is valuable work and worthy of investment.
This organization does a wonderful job of getting books into children's hands. Without them there would be a huge void in access to quality books for all ages. There is nothing as wonderful as seeing a child picking a book and carrying it home. When they discover they get to keep the book forever they have such beautiful smiles. This children don't have books at home and without PowerBook bags they might not get the needed assistance in learning to read. The need is great in the counties served.
PoWeR! Book Bags makes a difference for so many children and families! The gift of literacy is priceless as children choose free books to read over and over again. Stories abound of children taking home their first books ever with such pride , placing it in the handmade bag and throwing it over their shoulder starting their journey of reading, writing and talking their way to a better future! Founder, Kara Gregory knows how to put proven research to work in everything she does to promote reading and literacy from stamping books with “this book belongs to—————“, to giving brand new titles, to allowing choice, so children take ownership and read with excitement! This program has positively impacted thousands of families in Northern Michigan and with a gifted volunteer force it will continue to touch many thousands more!
PoWeR Book Bags has partnered with our library for two years donating books that our patrons have taken home to read and enjoy over and over. The cart of PoWeR Book Bags books is a huge hit at every library special event and watching children’s eyes light up when they choose books to take home and keep is a beautiful experience. Kara, Geri and all the volunteers are marvels, making literacy happen in tangible, welcoming ways.
PBB has grown the past 18 months like crazy despite the Covid-19. Excitement on the faces of young children receiving books and crayons and puppets and writing materials is payment for every donation. PBB is giving these materials to children who have nothing; they are living in homes that are challenged to feed them let alone provide books and crayons. The stories the little ones have to tell about what a book or having stuff to write with gives me smiles and chills!!
Power Book Bags is an amazing non profit. As a volunteer for many years, I have witnessed the excitement on children’s faces when they receive books and writing supplies in bags made by local volunteers. Even during covid the commitment to reading and writing was so strong, new ways were implemented to get books into the hands of children in our community. The leadership is strong as is the host of volunteers who respond when called upon. The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go says Dr Seuss and because of Power Book Bags the children in this community are going places. Support PPB
This is an exceptional non-profit that is focused on early childhood literacy development across 20 northern Michigan counties. I became involved when a PBB volunteer asked me to make fundraising contacts to support my childhood school because it has a very high percentage of the student population qualifying for free or subsidized lunches and low reading competency scores. I went to my old school and watched the PBB volunteer team lay out books so that students could pick out two to take home. Once chosen, the children put their precious books in a bag already filled with a composition book, book mark, box of crayons, and always popular finger puppets.
It was so heartwarming to see the excitement and joy those young children experienced receiving their book bags filled with titles they chose themselves. Needless to say, I helped make those contacts and have become more involved in PBB’s efforts to serve more children and their families across northern Michigan. It is also one of the charitable organizations my spouse and I financially support. All this great work is done by volunteers with the assistance of one part-time employee. Since my association with PBB, I have come to appreciate how essential early childhood literacy development is to our future generations of citizens.
PoWeR book bags has incorporated so much citizenship in our little community helping kids towards literacy as well as having my own adult kid distribute and promote the reading and giving and sharing to the younger generation. PoWeR has also allowed much older helpers sew bags, package the writing materials up as well as read to the youngers! And then, the child can Keep the Book! It brings me joy to be a part of this organization!