A drive to collect children’s books for Goodwill’s BookWorks childhood literacy program is now under way. People in Pinellas county are asked to donate new or like-new books for children ages 2 through 5.

Throughout the year, volunteers for Goodwill’s BookWorks program read to children at Head Start centers and then present each child with a personalized book to take home. Last year, the program gave more than 29,000 books to preschool children who may not otherwise have them. The book drive will supply the program during the next 12 months.

To donate books, attach a note indicating they are “For BookWorks” and drop them off at any Goodwill-Suncoast store or donation site.

Dunedin drop locations are:

1. Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, 373 Douglas Ave.
2. St. George Gas, 2000 Bayshore Blvd.
3. Weathersfield Crossing (Sweetbay), 1681 Main St.

To volunteer as a reader for the program, call Goodwill Community Relations at 888-279-1988, ext. 1013.

The BookWorks program is designed to instill a love of books and reading in children from low-income households to prepare them to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. Because early childhood literacy is linked to later employability, BookWorks supports Goodwill-Suncoast’s mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast was founded in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1954, and is one of the largest and most effective Goodwill organizations in the world. The organization's successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties, including employment and training services, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities, and community corrections programs. Goodwill is consistently ranked among the nonprofits most deserving of support based on the high percentage of revenue funneled to its programs.  For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.