The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library recently received grants totally $25,000 to benefit programs and services at the library.
They received a $20,000 grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. The funds are to support literacy programs and bookmobile services at the library. The family literacy programs advocate the importance of reading to children from birth because it has been shown to give children an early start to success in school. The family literacy programs are geared to first-time drug and domestic abuse offenders and their families. Outreach literacy programs are offered for migrant families, day care centers and citizens not able to visit the library.
The Friends also received a $2,000 grant from Target Corporation to put books in the homes of preschool children that may be waiting to enter preschool, have limited transportation or face barriers to attending preschool.
The Community Foundation for San Benito provided a grant for $3,000 for the purchase of books, DVDs and video material for the “Grow Strong San Benito” family literacy program. The program is for first-time drug or domestic violence offenders and their families.
The group is continuing its fundraising efforts with the Monterey Peninsula Foundation’s Birdies for Charity event. Community members can sponsor its Adopt-a-Book fundraiser through “Birdies for Charity” to buy books for the San Benito County Free Library. For every dollar donated, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation will match it plus 15 percent. If donations are made online at www.attpbgolf.com/birdiesforcharity/donations, 20 percent additional funds will be added to the donation. Brochures with information on how to donate are available at San Benito County Free Library, the Chamber of Commerce office and at local golf clubs. Brochures and donations should be returned to Friends of the San Benito County Free Library, 470 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023 unless donating online.
