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AFTBooks4Keeps

Because all families are struggling to help their children continue learning and keep their minds active during school closures and stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic, the AFT began AFTBooks4Keeps in partnership with First Book to support students and families most in need—such as those living in homeless shelters or transitional housing—have access to high-quality books by holding book distributions.  

AFTBooks4Keeps

This new effort is aimed at ensuring that—through reading—the children can be engaged and stimulated in this very uncertain and isolating time.

In our pilot AFTBooks4Keeps project, the AFT and First Book partnered with the United Federation of Teachers and Win (Women in Need), the largest provider of family shelter and supportive housing in New York City, to bring 10,000 books to the 2,100 children under age 18 currently living in 10 Win family shelters.

To work within safety guidelines and not overwhelm the facilities, the books will be distributed in three phases.

  • The first phase of the program will allow children to select two books for their very own, including pleasure reading, books with social and emotional learning themes, picture books for parent-child bonding, diverse books featuring characters that reflect their community, as well as Spanish-language and bilingual books.
  • The second phase will feature one more book distribution, and we will provide blank journals for students to practice their writing and drawing skills and to serve as an outlet for them to express their emotions during this difficult time.
  • Once physical distancing regulations have been relaxed, the third phase of the program will create a permanent sharing library with hundreds of books in each shelter.

Our hope is that this can be a model for similar partnerships in other cities and states to help homeless families and children access books.

For more information on how your state federation can work with state and city officials and community partners to start AFTBooks4Keeps projects in your state, please contact Leslie Getzinger at lgetzing@aft.org.