Literacy & Book Access

Literacy & Book Access

Pillar 7 — Literacy, Reading & Lifelong Learning

Melvindale Thrive Initiative is working to make books and reading opportunities more accessible to children and families in our community.

This is another area where the work has already begun.

More Than 200 Books Already Distributed

Melvindale Thrive Initiative has already distributed more than 200 children's books through our youth programming, community distribution efforts, and support provided directly to the school.

Some of those books were brand new. Others were gently used books donated to us by community members who wanted them to find a new home with children who would enjoy them.

People have been donating books to us, and we are grateful for every one of them.

Those donations allow us to keep putting books directly into children's hands instead of letting good books sit unused.

Detroit Kiwanis Books for Kids

Melvindale Thrive Initiative was approved for the Detroit Kiwanis Books for Kids program in August 2026.

Our first pickup took place on August 13, 2026, when we received approximately 150 primarily hardcover children's books for free distribution and literacy programming.

This is not a one-time opportunity. We were approved for recurring book pickups, giving us an ongoing source of books as supplies are available.

Little Free Library Impact Program

On August 3, 2026, Melvindale Thrive Initiative applied to the Little Free Library Impact Program.

We were accepted into the program process and are currently on the waiting list for funding for a library.

That means the project has not been denied. We are waiting for funding to become available so that the library can move forward.

Library of Congress Surplus Books Program

Melvindale Thrive Initiative was also approved for the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program on August 5, 2026.

This gives us another potential source of books for future literacy programming and community distribution.

Pursuing Funding for Six Additional Libraries

Melvindale Thrive Initiative is also preparing another major literacy funding request.

We are seeking $10,000 to support six additional community libraries.  It is done except for two board members signatures.

We are intentionally keeping the funder private while the application process is underway, but the goal is simple: create more places where children and families can access books close to home.

If funded, these six libraries would significantly expand our ability to place books directly into neighborhoods and keep literacy resources available throughout the community.

Read With Me

We are also developing our Read With Me literacy program, with a planned launch in 2027.

The goal is to create opportunities for children and families to read together, participate in literacy activities, receive books to keep at home, and make reading something children associate with family, community, and enjoyment.

Community Book Donations

Residents have already donated gently used books to Melvindale Thrive Initiative, and we welcome appropriate book donations that can be used for children's literacy efforts, school support, community distribution, and future neighborhood book-access projects.

A donated book may seem like a small thing.

But to a child who gets to choose it, take it home, and know that it belongs to them, it can mean much more.

Help Us Keep the Books Coming

We are continuing to pursue funding, partnerships, book donations, and other literacy opportunities.

Our goal is not to collect books and store them.

Our goal is to get them into people's hands.

We want children to have books at home.

We want families to have opportunities to read together.

And we want books to remain accessible throughout our community.

Every donated book, every partnership, and every funding opportunity helps us move closer to that goal.