Borders and Waldenbooks Customers Encouraged to Participate in Book Drive
by Donating New Children’s Books to Readiatrics

 Borders and Waldenbooks in Rapid City to donate five percent of the total sales
 from the books donated for this drive to Readiatrics

 This August, Borders and Waldenbooks in Rapid City will work with Readiatrics, a non-profit organization that collects new books for children facing health or financial challenges, to promote literacy and give books to children in need throughout the Rapid City area by hosting a month long book drive.  In addition to Borders and Waldenbooks, Midcontinent Communications and KAT 98.7 FM are co-sponsors of the book drive. 

Beginning August 1, customers in Rapid City are encouraged to donate new children’s books to benefit Readiatrics and the children they serve.   To assist customers with finding the right books to donate, Borders and Waldenbooks, with the help of Readiatrics, will create displays full of children’s books for customers to choose from.  Customers are also welcome to choose their favorite age appropriate children’s book and donate that as well.  Borders and Waldenbooks will then give the donated books to Readiatrics, who will distribute the books through the Early Head Start and Head Start programs.  The book drive is set to end August 31. 

In addition, Borders and Waldenbooks will donate five percent of its total sales* from the purchase of the books donated by its customers between August 1 and August 31 to Readiatrics. 

“We are very excited to work with Readiatrics for this book drive,” said Kathy Seitz, district manager for Borders.  “Literacy is a cause near and dear to us, and as a bookstore, we embrace our role as a contributing member of the community.  We believe that every child in need should experience the joy of owning their own book, to aid in the development of their imagination and open up new worlds for them.  As part of this community, we want to do what we can to make sure that the children in this area have the tools necessary to shape and define their lives.  We feel that reading books certainly helps with this.” 

“The Readiatrics program feels very fortunate to have the partnership of Borders and Waldenbooks to supply new books to the program.  With additional support from Midcontinent Communications and KAT 98.7 Radio to raise awareness for the drive, I feel this August drive for new books will be very beneficial for Readiatrics.  We are hoping to raise 300 new books,” said Darla Drew Lerdal, founder and organizer of Readiatrics. 

*Borders will donate a total of five percent of the gross sales relating to the book drive.  The “gross sales” relating to the book drive shall be the total purchases of books by Borders and Waldenbooks customers, where applicable, during the promotional period (August 1- 31, 2007) that are ultimately donated to the organization connected with the book drive.