BankRI, Books Are Wings launch drive

By Lindsay Lorenz
PBN Staff Writer

Bank Rhode Island and the local nonprofit Books Are Wings, an organization focused on literacy issues, recently announced a joint book drive that will provide children with free books.

Throughout the month of March, community members are invited to drop off new and gently used children’s books at any of the bank’s 18 branch locations. Collected books will be distributed to low-income children who otherwise might not have books in their homes.

“Research shows that a child who has 25 books or more at home, on average, will complete two more years of education than a child growing up in a home without books,” said Patricia O’Donnell-Saracino, vice president of community relations at BankRI. “Children who love to read develop the skills that help them not only excel in the classroom, but in life – this is an effort we at BankRI are extremely dedicated to.”

The bank is hoping to exceed last year’s collection, which yielded more than 1,400 books.