Rockford, IL – Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois concluded the successful “BOOK Your Classroom” event, which took place from July 31st through August 4th at Goodwill’s administrative office, located at 850 North Church Street, Rockford. This initiative provided 64 area teachers with over 1,200 free books for students aged preschool through 8th grade, emphasizing Goodwill’s dedication to supporting education and promoting literacy among young learners in the community.
Throughout the “BOOK Your Classroom” event, local educators explored an assortment of books, spanning various genres and reading levels, made possible by the generous donations from local community members. The event created a unique opportunity for teachers to acquire valuable resources to enrich their classrooms and cultivate a love of reading among their students.
Sara Petitt, a 1st-grade dual-language teacher from Todd Elementary School in Beloit, Wisconsin, expressed, “This event means so much to me. Making and building a classroom library takes so much time and money from my own pocket.” Beginning her first year of teaching, Petitt elaborated, “I was able to get bilingual books for my students to practice both languages while reading.”
The “BOOK Your Classroom” event also emphasizes Goodwill’s commitment to sustainability by reusing and recycling donated books benefiting both educators and the environment in a meaningful manner. Last year alone, Goodwill Northern Illinois kept over 19 million pounds of items out of area landfills.
Goodwill is appreciative of the generous donors, dedicated educators, and enthusiastic participants whose collective efforts made this event a resounding success.