Supplemental Educational Services program coordinator Brandee Anderson reported to Historic City News that the St. Johns County Education Foundation has received a donation of 14 boxes of books from the National Book Bank of Jacksonville.
The Supplemental Educational Services Program provides free tutoring services in math and reading for qualified elementary and middle school students and recently has been faced with an increase from 300 to potentially 700 participants.
“The National Book Bank generously gave us three extra boxes,” Anderson told Historic City News. The National Book Bank received the books as part of a grant from “First Book” — a nonprofit organization that annually provides millions of new books to schools and programs that serve children in need.
In order to qualify for the grant from “First Book”, at least eighty percent of the students must be enrolled in a Title I school; in the case of the Supplemental Educational Services Program, one-hundred percent of the students served attend these schools.
“It is programs like theirs that help programs like ours succeed,” Anderson said.
As a reward for the completion of the program, each child receives a grade level book and a certificate of completion. In this instance, Anderson says the books provided by the “First Book” grant will be awarded to these students.
Marketing Specialist Alaina Cordes told Historic City News reporters that, even though the grant was initially for 11 boxes, when the National Book Bank learned of the increased local need, they sent the Foundation a total of 14 boxes — representing over 550 books.
Volunteer tutors for the Supplemental Educational Services Program are recruited within the county. For more information about the program or to become a tutor, contact Brandee Anderson at (904) 547-7122.
The St. Johns County Education Foundation is recognized as a direct support organization for the St. Johns County School District. The St. Johns County Education Foundation leads efforts to provide funding opportunities, support initiatives that enhance public education and recognize and inspire teachers and students within St. Johns County. For more information, please visit www.sjcef.com, follow us on Twitter or visit our facebook.