Foundation Delivers 400 Books to Students

Lovejoy Elementary students show their love for new books at a recent book giveaway.

Nearly 400 Lovejoy Elementary students went home with a new book last month thanks to a grant from the Molina Foundation.

School counselor Laura Negrete-Reinders said the students were thrilled to receive their own book to take home.

“Many students asked if it was theirs to keep and had huge smiles when they were told yes!” Negrete-Reinders said.

The Molina Foundation’s Book Buddies program is part of an initiative to prevent a decline in reading scores in low-income, minority and limited English-speaking youth.

Studies have shown that children experience learning losses when they do not engage in education activities during out-of-school time.

It’s a passion Lovejoy staff share.

“Our goal at Lovejoy is for each student to have a book in their backpack every day,” Negrete-Reinders said.

The Molina Foundation, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, provided more than 30,000 books to children across Iowa this fall.