Thank you to the 130+ volunteers of Reading Promise Week 2023

VOLUNTEER
Written By Simone Partridge

Dear volunteers,

Thank you hardly seems enough to express our gratitude for your hard work and passion during packing week. 

Over 130 people—longtime partners, Reading Captains, and new friends—took time out of their busy schedules to support Reading Promise Week 2023. They say many hands make light work. And while there was nothing light about the early literacy crisis or moving thousands of pounds of resources, your help has made this our largest, quickest, and most joy-filled packing week yet. 

Every book sorted, bag labeled, and precious minute you shared with us is going to make Reading Promise Week extraordinary. This work is about so much more than stuffing bags. You are helping to create moments that bring families joy and give children the experience of choosing and taking home a book they love. 

None of this could have been possible without our invaluable partner and sponsor, the Share Food Program. This local nonprofit opened its food distribution warehouse and heart to the literacy cause. And staff went above and beyond helping us accept deliveries and move mountains of resources. Always sharing tips and laughter that made us feel like family along the way. 

We hope you can join us for Reading Promise Week October 7-15! Philly’s annual family literacy festival is bringing 70 free events citywide. And thanks to you, 11,000 literacy kits and 16,000 children’s books will be going into the hands of our city’s children.

With heartfelt thanks and incredible excitement, 


Clinton Drees
Reading Promise Week Project Manager
Read by 4th

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Simone Partridge
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Documentary sheds light on early literacy crisis (The Philadelphia Tribune)