Book ‘Em delivers brand-new, high-quality books to children and youth in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia. The books are distributed by the Bibb Sheriff’s Office in a variety of ways: during The Sheriff’s Office’s summer CHAMPS camps; at back-to-school kick-off events held in late summer; during various community events, many held at our local recreation centers; by patrol deputies who choose to keep books in their cars in order to give books to children they encounter through their patrol duties; and at school-wide book giveaways in an effort to prevent summer learning loss, also known as “Summer Slide”. Our hope is that this will help the children of Macon-Bibb to see law-enforcement officers as friends and allies whom they can trust.
Macon Book ‘Em is able to purchase new books from First Book and Scholastic on a below-cost basis, averaging $1-$3 per brand new book, due to the fact that we are a non-profit delivering books to children who need them.
Why is this so important?
Consider the fact that many municipalities use the scores on reading achievement tests of 3rd graders in their community’s schools to do long-range planning for the number of jail cells they project a need for in 20 years. The literacy rate really determines the success or failure of a community.