Observer collecting new books for Reading Reindeer

Children love being read to, but local organizations say some of the youngest residents of West Orange County have no books in their homes. The Reading Reindeer literacy campaign returns for the 27th year to put books into the hands of local children.

Observer Media Group is collecting new books for underserved youth from birth to age 17. Books can be dropped off at the Observer office in Winter Garden from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays or by appointment. Other drop-off locations will be announced in upcoming weekly Reading Reindeer advertisements in the West Orange Times and Observer and the Southwest Orange Observer newspapers and on the Observer website.

Books will be distributed to youth through several organizations: the Winter Garden Police Department’s Holiday Gifts for Kids program, the Ocoee Police Department’s Holiday Toys for Kids in Need, Oakland Police Department, Edgewood Children’s Ranch, Matthew’s Hope Firm Foundation, Community Health Centers, Eight Waves, West Orange Habitat for Humanity, and Boys and Girls Clubs of West Orange.

Reading Reindeer was started in West Orange County in 1998. Community support has enabled Reading Reindeer to bring new books to close to 70,000 children.

Donation bins are set out in locations around West Orange County for donors to drop off books.

The community is invited to join the effort to improve literacy levels in West Orange County. The Rotary Club of Horizon West is partnering with Observer this year, and members are collecting books at their weekly meetings.

Monetary donations payable to Reading Reindeer also can be mailed to the Observer Media Group office at 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden, Florida 34787.

This year’s campaign ends Dec. 4, and new books will be accepted until that date. The program is being coordinated by Allison Brunelle, and she can be contacted by calling the Observer office at (407) 656-2121 or emailing her at [email protected].

YOUNG REINDEER VOLUNTEER

Ten-year-old James Luce II knows the value of a good book, and he wants all children in West Orange County to experience the fun of reading.

James asked the Observer Media Group to allow him to collect books for its annual Reading Reindeer literacy drive, and he requested a collection bin to keep the donations organized.

“I wanted to collect books to help other families have books so they can read and/or learn how to read,” James said. “I love reading, and it is fun to know what is going to happen in the book after what you already read. Every time we take a break from reading a super interesting book, I always want to finish the book, even if I really have to go to sleep.”

James and his parents set the red donation bin at their front door on Royal Estates Boulevard in the Royal Legacy Estates community in Orlando. He created a flier and passed them out to let neighbors know about the literacy drive.