I absolutely love Book'em! I was introduced to Book'em through the Junior League of Nashville and have spent two years volunteering for them in multiple capacities. I'm thrilled to be a part of the Reading is Fundamental Program, where I get to go into one of Book'em's partner elementary schools and read to a classroom. Not only have I experienced the joy of volunteering, but one of my nieces came home from school one day with a forever book stamped with love by the Book'em team. The joy on her face when I picked her up from school and she showed me the book she chose for her home library is priceless.
Book'em helps children and young adults ignite their passion for reading by providing them with books. I'm so proud to volunteer with Book'em!
I began volunteering to be a guest reader several years ago with Book'em during Read Me Day. As I learned more about Book'em I wanted to do more. This organization provides free books to public school children who likely do not have books of their own at home. They are passionate about their mission and give away thousands of books a year to children from kindergarten to high school seniors.
Now I volunteer regularly at a local school to read to one class of children throughout the school year. It's so rewarding, the children get so excited when they see me come into the room. They are engaged when I read and always participate in discussions afterwards. Of course they are excited to pick out a book of their own to take home.
Now Book'em has a bus that will be able to go to where children are in their neighborhoods and pass out books. It's brightly painted, kid friendly and packed with books.
I so love this organization that I asked to serve on the board and be a part of planting the seed to make life long readers.
Book'em is always among a select group of non-profits that I support financially every year.
Book'em is such a Nashville gem! So many students in Davidson County have books to call their own due to Book'em. The addition of the Book Bus has been great for reaching kids in the summer and for visiting schools during the year. It has helped get more children excited about reading.
The organization accomplishes an amazing amount of work with a small but very dedicated staff. Book'em is also lucky to have a large roster of volunteers who help carry out the work in the community.
Fantastic experience all around. Always great to see the students' reactions when they receive their books!
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Read moreBook 'Em does a great job making sure that books are accessible to all of Nashville's children. They also create a culture and love for reading!
I have been involved in this organization for over a decade now. This organization does everything it can to stretch every bit of the donations. I am proud to sit on the Board of Directors now.
The new Book Bus is going to change our visibility around town, please come say hi if you see it at an event. We are always looking for more ways to get into the community and get books into the hands of Nashville's youth.
I am proud that we have so many partnerships that give us the opportunity to give away popular books. If you have not had the privilege to read to a class a kids and then let them each pick out their own book, I would highly encourage you to volunteer with us! There is nothing more precious than watching students put their names in their books and being so excited about literacy!
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I have been involved with Book'em almost a decade now. The more I dive into this organization, the more proud I am. The staff do an amazing job of finding resources and creating programs that really matter to Davidson County kids. If you could just experience the light in a child's eye from a brand new book they receive through one of Book'em's numerous programs, you'd be hooked as well. Great organization!! And how the adapted during the pandemic was inspiring, they still found ways to get books in the hands of kids.
Book'em is an amazing nonprofit that truly makes a difference in children's lives by promoting book ownership and reading. As a reading volunteer and board member, I see first hand Book'em's impact each time I visit classrooms to read. I love seeing the way children's eyes light up when they get to select their own book and connect with the imaginative stories.
Book’em does something so simple yet so important: they put books into kids’ hands. I have worked with the organization for nearly 20 years and have seen time and time again how much this means to the community. As a volunteer reader, I get to share great books with kids to build a love of reading, and then I get to let them choose a book of their very own. Book’em is a well-run, essential organization that makes a difference in children’s lives!
I deeply admire the Book'em whom provides books and literature to children because it fosters a love of reading and learning from a young age. By ensuring that kids have access to diverse and enriching literary resources, this organization helps to bridge educational gaps, promote literacy, and ignite imaginations. Their work not only supports academic success but also empowers children to dream big, develop empathy, and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities. The transformative impact of their mission inspires me and underscores the vital role of literacy in personal and societal growth.
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Book'em has a mission around improving literacy for all children of all backgrounds. The partnerships with local communities and schools to provide literature to help academically strengthen children, give better access to books, and increase their literacy is important. As a board member being surrounded by fellow members, supporters, and school systems that all share a common goal is exciting.
When I began as a Reading Is Fundamental volunteer, I immediately fell in love with this organization and the way it implements its mission. In each class I've volunteered with, at least one child has told me they don't have any books at home, and to be able to change that is an incredible feeling. When I think about the role books have played in my life, I feel so blessed to be able to give children the opportunity to love reading. I'm now fortunate to serve as a board member to help further our mission of bringing books and children together. The employees are tireless and tenacious, our volunteers are generous and enthusiastic, and I believe Nashville's children are better off because of Book'em's efforts.
Book'em distributes over 100,000 books each year to kids in Nashville who need them! Their staff is top notch and always wants to do the most good. One of the best organizations I've come across in Nashville!
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Book'em is such a great organization that works tirelessly to get books in the hands of Nashville children that need them!
As a volunteer for Book'em, I always enjoy my time reading in the classroom. One of my favorite memories was this past year in a kindergarten class. After passing out books to all of the children, one little boy came up to me and started showing me all of the words he could read in his new book, which almost brought tears to my eyes as I could see how important it was for him to have books of his own to practice reading so he can become a lifelong reader.
I am so proud to be part of an organization that is doing so many good things for my community.
I've been volunteering with Book'em since last January, and it has been incredibly rewarding getting to witness the impact the organization has in Nashville. My favorite memory (so far!) has been participating in "Read Me Day" at a local elementary school. The 1st grade class was just thrilled to have visitors, and it was so rewarding watching their faces light up when they got to take books home. Thank you to the Book'em staff, board, volunteers, community partners, and schools who are dedicated to increasing literacy and sharing the joy of reading with our youngest generation.
Book'em is an excellent nonprofit that does incredible work fostering and promoting literacy in the Nashville community! I've had the honor of volunteering with the organization for over eight years, including seven years of service on the board of directors. I can't recommend Book'em enough!
Research says kids need to read independently in order to become strong readers. But, many children live in homes without books. Book’em puts books into the hands of Nashville’s kids so they can read books that are interesting and just right for them. Plus, Book’em is able to send volunteer readers to schools to share the joys of reading with kids. This is an excellent nonprofit with a laser-focused mission. They do great work!!
Amazing organization that is doing great work in the Nashville community! Encouraging kids to read is something we can all support and get behind!
Book’em is a great organization, I always enjoy the opportunity to read to the children! Helping to empower our youth through literacy is an asset in the community.
What an incredible organization that puts everything into their mission. It's a small team making an incredible impact and ensuring that every child has an opportunity to have a book in their hands! I am so proud of the work they do in the Nashville community with limited resources and space!
I have been a volunteer with Book'Em since 2019 and this is an organization that cares deeply about the children they serve, the community that surrounds these children and their mission to provide books and instill a love of reading in kids in Davidson County. The staff works incredibly hard and is appreciative of each of their volunteers. The close relationship Book'Em has with the public school district helps them to reach as many students as possible.
I love volunteering at Book'Em. By processing books to be given free of charge to thousands of waiting children and youth, I feel like I help make a difference in their lives. The work is easy because all the wonderful Book'Em Staff make it easy. Books were my number one pastime growing up so helping another child discover there's so much more than their present condition is a joy to me. Bravo Book'Em and keep up the great work!
Imagine being able to share your love of reading with a classroom of delightful children. And then imagine not only reading to them, but being able to provide those children with books so they can grow their own personal library! There is no need to imagine because that is what being a Book’em Reading is Fundamental volunteer is all about. It is a joyful experience. I love volunteering with Book’em — and so might you!
Retirement is wonderful, but then you must find new and inspiring things to do with those 8 hours that have taken up what seems to have been your whole life.
I was introduced to Book’em by a friend and fell in love with wanting to help Nashville’s children read. I have spent the last 8 years moving boxes , stamping books, planning special events and lastly a board member. For me their is no greater gift than handing a child a book they can take home and call their own. The Hugs the Thank you’s from these so deserving Nashville Kids is more than my heart can take most days. “ The Places You Will Go” and the people you will meet along that path., are what makes Book’em by far the best non profit to make the remaining years of ones life have purpose. Thank you For having a place for all.
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Hi , I started as a volunteer for Bookem helping in our in house Library.
I found that each time I went my life became fuller with the work we were doing, providing books to the Community. Every once in a while my favorite books from childhood came across the table and the memories that came with them. I started to read to a first grade classroom. Everytime I left I knew I left a piece of myself with them along with a book they could take home and call there own.I was becoming totally addicted to being a part of this wonderful selfless non- profit called Bookem. The smiles , the excitement of children wanting to share and read together is just the best feeling. I cry when I leave them for the summer, and count the time we will all be together reading again. Today 5 years later Iam on the board as Secretary and working even harder to get the word out in the Community what we are and what we do. But most of all how good it feels and how it effects so many Children and there future. Without reading and books we are nothing. Join the experience of a lifetime. Putting Children in our community First.
A very well-run non profit, Book’Em has been an establishment of the Nashville community for years. They run so many programs for kids including giving out books to students who otherwise wouldn’t have any in their home, their one on one volunteer reading program, volunteers going to read in classrooms, and more. If you have books to donate, this is a great place to send them. They didn’t stop during the pandemic and even gave kids books via school lunch pick ups. Can’t say enough good things about the organization, their mission, and their amazing staff and volunteers!
I had been reading to my second grade class for a couple of months. I always asked the children what books they would like me to bring to them to select from the following month. One child had requested a particular book. I had not been able to find the specific book this child requested, but had found a similar one. After his turn to make his choice, he came up to me and hugged me and said "This is the best day of my life. You brought me a book I really want to read." This felt really good and certainly reinforced for me the wonderful work Book-em does in helping to create joyful readers, which thereby enhances literacy among our young Nashville students.
I have had the honor of being both a RIF volunteer and board member for Book'em for the past 3 years. The work they do to inspire reading and being reading role models for MNPS youth is fundamental to their educational development and success. I've been fortunate to read to a 4th grade class this year. The students cheer when i arrive and are very engaged during the reading. Their book selection is obviously very important to them. I receive hugs and request to return at the end of each visit. THEY inspire ME. My 16 year old daughter is an avid reader and has started volunteering at Book'em this past year. She has grown as an individual and as an engaged citizen of our community as a result. Thank you, Book'em for growing us!
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I started working with Book'em as a volunteer during company sponsored volunteer days. I was truly inspired by how many children they are able to serve in the Nashville area through management of the local RIF program. Each classroom gets to experience the magic of reading which opens the door to a whole new world of imagination! Each child in a RIF class is given 5 BRAND NEW books each year! I can't imagine growing up without books! There are still several elementary schools that Book'em hasn't yet been able to expand their services to. They need our help to continue grow their program so that each elementary school and grade level benefit from the magic of reading and book ownership. These children are the next generation.
I am now a board member and had the privilege to participate in Read Me Day at Carter Lawrence elementary school. These children are amazing! And they all love to read. We need to feed that hunger. We need to improve the literacy of our youth. Book'em/RIF volunteers do this every time they step into a classroom and read a story. I am so honored and humbled to be a part of this amazing and inspiring organization!
Book'em is great organization that is helping bring books and literacy to the underserved and underprivileged kids of the metro Nashville schools. This organization's focus on literacy and getting books into the hands of every child really speaks to me personally as an avid reader that was privileged to grow up with books and parents that read to me from birth. Book'em's mission to serve the kids that aren't as privileged with books and reading and literacy is really what lead me to want to serve on the board.
I am proud to be a volunteer Reading is Fundamental reader with Book'em. We visit a classroom five times each year to read and to distribute books to the students. I also serve as a member of the Board. Book'em has a number of great programs in addition to RIF that are aimed at providing children with books of their own from birth through high school. Helping kids become readers is a gateway to help them expand their horizons and their dreams. Kids who have books at home do better in school and life than kids who don't.
Mary Silva Doctor
Book’em is so critical to youth literacy in our city. Book’em gets volunteer readers in classrooms to share their love of reading and donates books to kids who need them most, giving them stories that they can read again and again.
Reading opens up imaginations and gives kids the confidence to be lifelong learners. And Book’em is helping kids do just that.
I have seen firsthand the changes this nonprofit makes in the lives of children here in Nashville. It is such an incredible organization!
Being a Bookem volunteer is so much fun. I love visiting and reading with children and they are so excited to be able to pick out their books to keep. It doesn't take a lot of time but is very rewarding.
ChanceLight partnered with Book'em a few years ago to develop a Corporate Sponsorship program that would allow employees to adopt classrooms and potentially even a school. With the help of Book'em, in less than 2 years, ChanceLight was able to go from adopting 6 classrooms to an entire elementary school. The work that Book'em does to help children is astounding. They truly care about every student and work diligently to make sure all children have someone to look up to and to read to them. ChanceLight's mission is: helping change the direction of children's lives and we truly believe Book'em aligns with that mission.
I've been working with Book'em for 7 years now and have continually seen them accomplish a lot with a little. The staff is small but they work hard every day to make sure that kids have access to books and readers. Great group of people!
When I grew up in Germany (at a time way before cable TV, internet and Ipads) we hung out for hours at the local library. I remember getting lost in mythological stories as well as adventures of master detectives. Books were never scarce in our lives!
I had no idea how many elementary school children don't have sufficient access to books and thus don't have a fair chance to enhance their reading skills.
I am glad to be a volunteer for RIF! I get to read books to and with "my students" a few times a year. I know, they will be waiting for me to come to class and distribute books that will become their own!
What a win-win situation. I get to enjoy reading children's books and contribute a bit to creating interest in reading and increasing the ability to imagine and to connect
I love volunteering at Book'em! As a former educator I enjoy being able to go into classrooms and read to children and see the joy it brings them when they get to pick out their brand new books! I am amazed at the number of books that are processed and given away through the many programs that Book'em provides to the underserved children in Nashville.
Book'em is a fantastic group fulfilling a definite need in our community. The mission of Book'em is simple- putting books in the hands of Nashville's youth that need it most. Through its flagship program Reading is Fundamental, volunteer readers go into Nashville schools 5 times per school year and read to the children. Most importantly, though, each child takes home a brand new book after each reading. I can speak from personal experience that while the children love the story time, they most cherish having their very own new book to take home. If you are looking for a nonprofit having a real impact in the community, Book'em meets that criteria!
Book 'em is amazing! There's nothing more fun than reading to kids and making them proud book owners. It's the best 30 minutes of my month. It is easy to take for granted something as familiar as having books in your home, but the children that I read to really don't, and they are so grateful for the books that we give them. I always feel good after I leave my classroom .
I worked for Book'em and am now a volunteer. Book'em is a very small nonprofit that is making a big difference with children in Metropolitan Nashville. We give books to children who don't have books of their own to have at home. Research shows that children with books at home are better readers. One special program of Book'em is giving 5 books to every child who moves into a new Habitat for Humanity house. The books are wrapped up with ribbons and bows with a gift card and are waiting in the house for them. What a wonderful surprise for them! I love helping to pick out the books for these children.
Martha Ann
Working with Book'em has been a great experience for me so far, and I will continue volunteering with the organization. Through its Reading is Fundamental program, as well as collaborations with other national and local organizations, Book'em is able to distribute thousands of books to underprivileged children -- many of whom would otherwise not have books of their own. An enthusiasm for reading is a lifelong gift that Book'em gives to countless children each year.
RIF is a fine organization, and RIF Nashville's chapter is a truly fabulous one in that our approach is to build a relationship between a reading volunteer and a classroom that involves 5 visits during a school year and the chance for kids to not only hear 5 stories (just for fun) but to choose 5 books with which to begin building their personal library. Because the children we serve often do not own ANY books besides the ones we give them, this is very exciting for them.
The Book Em organization has provided many opportunities for the students in my school building to receive books for each student's birthday. This organization send reader/volunteers to my school throughout the school year to read to students in grades K-2. After the volunteer finishes reading the students are able to select a book of their choice to take home. Our students have such wonderful libraries at home due to Book Em promoting literacy. Book Em is a great organization and I have enjoyed every moment of the four years of working with them.
What a wonderful and rewarding experience to volunteer at Book'em! I process incoming book donations and re-send them out to wonderful children who wouldn't otherwise have books of their own to read. The gift we give these children will benefit them for a lifetime!
I love my volunteer work at Book'em. Reading to 2nd graders is very rewarding and they are always so happy to see you and the books that you bring them. I would encourage anyone with a love for children and reading to volunteer. It is only about four hours a month and is very rewarding.
I highly encourage anyone who is looking for a rewarding way to give back to the community to consider Book'em. I do not have children of mine own yet, however I have always loved reading and feel that all children should own books. In the fall of 2009 I was assigned my first reading classroom. I was nervous at first, but the Book'em staff was supportive and provided me with lots of training and contact information so that I never felt alone. I read aloud to the class of 20 children 5 times during the 2009-2010 school year. At each visit I would bring a variety of brand new books from the Book’em library, so that each child could select a book of their very own to take home. The children were so sweet and excited to see me everytime. They enjoyed our story time together even if they already knew every word of the book that I was planning on reading to them. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading to another class this year.