Did you know that Orange County United Way operates six Little Free Libraries putting books in doctor’s offices, schools, community centers, parks and waiting rooms throughout the community?

As part of the OC Reads program, the Little Free Libraries help to communicate the importance of getting children engaged in reading and learning at an early age by making books available to children who may not otherwise have access to building a home library. Reading is a critical bridge to success in school, work and life.

With a “take one, leave one” concept, readers can borrow a book and leave a book to share with others. The books are free and replenished by Orange County United Way with donations from the community.

To replenish the books at the Little Free Libraries, Orange County United Way recently hosted the Read Aloud Book Drive with a goal to collect 3,500 new and gently used books for children. At the end of the book drive, over 7,000 books had been donated – doubling the original goal.

Thank you to the 16 hosts that helped contribute to the book drive’s success, including Garden Grove Unified School District, Boys and Girls Club Anaheim, Olive Crest, Boys and Girls Club of Stanton, A Child’s Learning Place, Santa Ana West WIC Center, Moxie Marketing Agency, Habit for Humanity, Orange County, SPIN, El Modena Family Resource Center, Jerome Center, Children’s Museum at La Habra, Boys and Girls Club of Brea, CSP Huntington Beach and 3M Automotive Aftermarket Meguiar’s Inc.

To see how you can donate books or if you have any questions, please contact Daisy Benitez at 949.263.6124 or via email. Check out photos from the most recent book drive here.