WEST HARTFORD – Thanks to many generous donors who supported the 4th Annual Greater Hartford Holiday Book Drive, at-risk students across will have brand new books to call their own. The drive, a joint effort of Children’s Reading Partners, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and the West Hartford Rotary Club, collected more than 3,000 new and used books and more than $1,100 in monetary donations.

Five drop-off locations participated: Keller Williams Realty, Beth El Temple, Beth Sholom B’nai Israel, Congregation Beth Israel and The Emanuel Synagogue. The Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy, Mandell JCC Early Childhood Center and Hoffman SummerWood donated books. The books will be given to students who attend Children’s Reading Partners’ participating preschools and elementary schools in Hartford, Bloomfield, East Hartford, New Britain, Manchester and West Hartford, and to children who participate in literacy programs offered by its partner organizations, The Scribe’s Institute and MEGA Education. Financial contributions will be used to buy additional new books for students to read, keep and love. Shown here, a local student and her Children’s Reading Partners mentor work on literacy skills.