Douglas Park Community School and Willoughby Elementary have been chosen as recipients for Indigo’s 2016 Adopt a School program.
In schools where books are more scarce, the goal is to add one new book for every student. This additional material helps transform school libraries, and provide more learning materials for the students.
Since its inception in 2009, the Adopt a School program has put more than 325,000 books into the hands of children across the country.
Langley and Coles Willowbrook Mall are fundraising on the two schools’ behalf during the annual three-week campaign.
Until Oct. 9, the campaign is allowing more than 200 high-needs elementary schools to benefit through local Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores in their communities as they raise funds for new books and educational resources.
In addition to these adopted schools, Lynn Fripps Elementary and Nicomekl Elementary also have their own fundraising pages through adoptaschool.indigo.ca where online donations can be made.
Here’s how the community can get involved:
• Donate: All schools participating in Adopt a School receive 100 per cent of the donations fundraised in-store and online at adoptaschool.indigo.ca.
At the end of the program, the foundation will provide each school with their funds as an e-gift card.
Schools will also receive 30 per cent off all books at Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores.
• Book Bonus: The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation will offer a matching program for all online donations.
With every $20 donation received (the equivalent value of two books), the school will receive a third book for free.
• Tell a Story, Give a Story: Canadians can also support without a donation by sharing a short story on the online profile of a participating school.
If that story is selected to be featured on the Adopt a School website, the foundation will donate a book to that school’s library for free.
In Canada, 43 per cent of students leaving secondary school don’t have the literacy skills needed for the majority of jobs.