‘Books for Kids’ drive gets big boost from printer
Quebecor Buffalo enthusiastic supporter
Since The Buffalo News began the “Books for Kids” drive in 1995, more than 1.4 million books have been collected and distributed to poor children throughout the region.
More than a million of those books came from Quebecor World Buffalo, the commercial printing company with a plant in Depew.
While the annual book drive officially concluded for another year on Thursday, it didn’t pass without a tip of the hat to Quebecor and its million-book milestone.
Kevin J. Clarke, president of Quebecor World’s Publishing Services Group, whose Buffalo outlet is at 2475 George Urban Blvd., Depew, said he got involved in Books for Kids more than a decade ago, when an associate told him about the drive—an effort by The News and Project Flight, an organization based at Buffalo State College, to promote literacy and help poor youngsters by giving them books.
Clarke attended a meeting with organizers.
“When they explained to me how many homes didn’t contain one book, I was absolutely astonished, maybe somewhat outraged, that that could happen in today’s world,” Clarke said Thursday.
“That led me to participate aggressively,” Clarke said. “As they say in the movies, ‘You had me at hello.’ ”
Since then, Clarke each year contacts the many book publishers Quebecor does business with, asking for a contribution on behalf of Books for Kids. The requests result in about 50,000 books a year for the drive, with Quebecor spending about $30,000 to $40,000 a year in shipping costs to have the books hauled here.
“Books for Kids would never have the reach that it has if it weren’t for Quebecor,” said Cindy Sterner, marketing director for The News.
The monthlong book drive officially ended Thursday, but contributions are still being accepted, because of the large numbers of requests for books this year, Sterner said. Donations can be dropped off in the lobby of The Buffalo News at Scott and Washington streets.
Last year, 95,000 books were distributed. This year, 103 agencies— which help get the books into the hands of kids — requested 150,000 books. That’s the most ever requested since the drive began.
“There is such a focus on literacy and strategies for literacy,” Sterner said. “All the research points to really immersing children in reading materials — magazines, books, newspapers.”
Monetary donations still are being accepted, as well. The money is used to buy large print, Braille, and other specialized books that are more expensive.
Checks can be made payable to Books for Kids/Project Flight and sent to The Buffalo News, P. O. Box 100, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240.
Besides Quebecor World Buffalo, The News and Project Flight partner with Wegmans, WGRZ Channel 2, the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries and the Junior League of Buffalo.
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