ORLANDO, Oct. 28, 2024 — With a goal of collecting 5,000 books for Central Florida's youngest readers, WUCF in collaboration with VyStar Credit Union will hold its second-annual book drive to benefit Head Start programs.
The PBS KIDS Preschool Book Drive will collect new and gently used children's picture books suitable for preschool through first grade from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30 to promote early literacy.
Books will be collected at more than 30 VyStar Credit Union locations and independent bookstores across all of Central Florida (full list of participating locations below).
As part of WUCF's ongoing America250 content and engagement campaign, which focuses on fostering community spirit and educational equity through 2025, the PBS KIDS Book Drive invites the community to join in an important mission. The goal is to empower children with essential literacy skills, helping to close the resource gap that many children face at an early age.
"This book drive is a powerful way for our community to come together and support early literacy for preschoolers in local Head Start programs," said Melissa Braillard, Director of Community Impact at WUCF. "By partnering with VyStar Credit Union and independent bookstores, we're not only providing critical resources but also fostering a sense of unity and shared responsibility to invest in the future of our youngest learners."
Research shows that children proficient in reading by third grade are four times more likely to excel academically and in their future careers. Providing books at a young age fosters literacy, curiosity and critical thinking, setting children up for success in school and beyond.
This book drive is not only about fostering education; it's about building a sense of community—promoting acts of kindness by encouraging individuals to donate books and invest in the future of young learners.
How to Participate:
Donations can be made at VyStar Credit Union branches, participating bookstores or other designated drop-off locations across Central Florida.
For those who prefer to support from home, WUCF also offers an online donation optionat https://donate.wucf.org/wucf/vystar, where books will be purchased on behalf of donors.
More information about the book drive is available at https://www.wucf.org/community/family/book-drive/
The full listing of Central Florida book drop-off locations is:
Orange County
- WUCF | 12461 Research Parkway, Suite 550, Orlando, FL 32826
- VyStar Credit Union Downtown Orlando | 1 S. Orange Ave, Orlando FL 32801
- VyStar Credit Union Winter Park | 605 North Orlando Ave, Orlando, FL 32789
- VyStar Credit Union Winter Garden | 14130 W. Colonial Dr, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- VyStar Credit Union Lake Nona Branch | 12251 Narcoossee Road, Orlando, FL 32832
- Writer's Block Bookstore Winter Park | 316 N. Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Writer's Block Bookstore Winter Garden | 32 W. Plant St, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Ocoee Book Rack | 125 W. McKey St, Ocoee, FL 34761
Seminole County
- VyStar Credit Union Sanford | 251 West First St, Sanford, FL 32771
- VyStar Credit Union Lake Mary | 4699 W. Lake Mary Blvd, Lake Mary, FL 32746
- VyStar Credit Union Oviedo | 3055 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765
- VyStar Credit Union Altamonte Springs Branch | 151 N. State Highway 434, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
- Spellbound Bookstore | 105 N. Oak Ave, Sanford, FL 32771
Marion County
- VyStar Credit Union Ocala | 4614 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474
Brevard County
- VyStar Credit Union Melbourne | 6435 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940
- VyStar Credit Union Titusville | 1809 Cheney Highway, Titusville, FL 32780
- hello again books | 411 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922
Osceola County
- White Rose Books & More | 113 Broadway, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Lake County
- VyStar Credit Union Mt. Dora | 18190 US-441 S, Mt. Dora, FL 32757
- Sunshine Book Co. | 647 Lake Ave, Clermont, FL 34711
- Barrel of Books and Games | 403 N. Donnelly St, Mt Dora, FL 32757
Sumter County
- VyStar Credit Union Villages Oxford | 3340 Wedgewood Ln, Village, FL 32162
- VyStar Credit Union Villages Wildwood | 5857 Seven Mile Drive, Wildwood, FL 34785
- All Booked Up | 271 Colony Blvd, The Villages, FL 32162
Volusia County
- VyStar Credit Union Daytona Beach | 1040 International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
- VyStar Credit Union Deland | 1517 N. Woodland Blvd, Deland, FL 32720
- VyStar Credit Union Ormond Beach | 1301 W. Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
- VyStar Credit Union Port Orange | 750 Dunlawton Ave, Port Orange, FL 32129
- VyStar Credit Union Orange City | 960 Saxon Blvd, Orange City, FL 32763
- Fern & Fable Books | 51 W. Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Flagler County
- VyStar Credit Union Flagler Beach | 2550 Moody Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137
- VyStar Credit Union Palm Coast | 305 Palm Coast Parkway SW, Palm Coast, FL 32164
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About WUCF:
WUCF TV is the sole-service PBS member station for the nearly 4 million Central Floridians across nine counties. WUCF is Central Florida’s storyteller, encouraging curiosity and learning through compelling content and community engagement. WUCF produces award-winning local content like “Florida Road Trip,” which explores Florida through history, people and culture. WUCF also serves Florida’s youngest citizens, offering hours of PBS KIDS content on-air, online and in the classroom, leading the state in usage for PBS LearningMedia. Throughout its 10-year history, WUCF has engaged with over 1.5 million people across Central Florida at in-person events and over 30 million people online through virtual events and streaming content. The station is community-supported public broadcasting from the University of Central Florida. Learn more at http://wucf.org/.
Media Contact on Behalf of WUCF:
Christine Dellert Mullon
407.718.0199