OGDEN -- An area interfaith community action group would like to see some of Ogden's most underpriveledged residents get a boost up toward a brighter future.
These residents are inner-city youth in preschool, kindergarten and first grade.
Ogden's Interfaith Works needs the community's help if it is to provide these children with their own books to read at home. Organizers now are collecting donations of new or slightly used books for children of this age.
"It's one thing to be able to read a book at school or check one out of the library, but a book that's a child's to keep has a better chance of teaching him or her a real love of reading," said Jan Luger, who oversees the group's book drive.
And she recognizes that parents who are struggling to pay the rent and for food likely will not purchase a book for their children.
For about a decade, Luger has collected both monetary and book donations for the children at the Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership, Inc. Head Start.
The partnership offers the books to children it serves at various functions it holds throughout the year. Children are rewarded for attending or performing by having an opportunity to select a book to take home.
Workers there have documented the excitement of the children who receive the books through a slideshow they offer at various community functions.
Luger has become an expert at ordering discounted books through special offers from Scholastic.
"The company gives me the same treatment as they do schools and teachers," she said.
And Luger has learned when and how to order the books in the most efficient manner to receive the highest yield for the money she receives.
"A lot of times I can get really good books for less than a dollar," she said. "These are colorful stories that keep a child's interest."
So far this fiscal year, Luger has purchased about 1,000 books. But she'd like to be able to deliver more books than this.
And Luger also recognizes that children have all sorts of tastes in books.
That's one reason why she would like for the community to get involved and donate all sorts of books to give the children a variety from which to select.
In the past, churches have taken on the book drive as a project with members collecting dozens of books and delivering them to Luger.
She's also received checks in the mail from individuals and groups for the books.
For information, call Luger at (801) 479-6503.
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