Over the last few months, the Spark Foundation board has had several conversations regarding how we can continue operating in a post-COVID-19 environment. Our initial reaction to the pandemic with indefinite closure of schools across the country was to pause all operations until we were able to obtain guidance on how schools will integrate local nonprofits during the 20/21 school year. While this would have been the easiest route, we continued our conversations with teachers and administrators who highlighted all the additional roadblocks placed in the way of student book ownership. This made it abundantly clear, how critical the continued operation of Spark was to the students. For us, that was enough to ensure we did not allow Covid-19 to slow down our mission of putting books into the hands of students who need them the most.
During June, with the help of teachers from Moulton, Monroe, and River Woods elementary schools, we successfully mailed a total of 275 books directly to the homes of the students we have worked with all year. While we have decided to pause in-classroom volunteer opportunities during the upcoming school year, we would like to introduce you to The Spark Foundations Book of the month program. Each month, we will highlight a new book, featuring diverse characters and cultural traditions that will be sent to the same students we have supported all year long. The Spark Book of the Month is only one aspect of our growing Love to Read program, and we will have more to share soon.
As always, thank you for all of your support. None of this would be possible without you.
Akil Clark
President of The Spark Foundation