From 2016 to 2024 we distributed over 50,000 books to birth-5 children in the Champaign-Urbana area. The Neiswender family is so appreciative of the Rotary Club of Champaign’s efforts to provide additional resources to support literacy for youth in our community. We are grateful Rotary selected Books from Brek as a vehicle to support that effort.  This gift will help us expand our efforts and to further the success of Books from Brek in meeting a most critical literacy need. 

We are so pleased to announce the in addition to furthering our efforts with Crisis Nursey and the library’s Mother Goose program we will be expanding to serve the needs of three addition community programs:

• Heathy Beginnings

• Y on the Fly

• Barbershop Books

Crisis Nursery Center was a foundational partner. Crisis Nursery creates an "Island of Safety" dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect by providing 24-hour emergency care for children and support to strengthen families in crisis.  Since 2016 four times a year book bags are distributed to children and their families.  We have been so rewarded in being able to interact from time to time with these children and their families and to hear from parents how thrilled they are to have access to books.

Mother Goose is an award winning literacy program designed for children ages birth to six years. Our youngest community members have a chance to get free books and enjoy special storytimes when Mother Goose visits area childcare centers. The Champaign Library provides Books from Brek space for all of our books to be delivered for leveling, packaging, and readying.

Healthy Beginnings- Healthier beginnings, healthier families

In its almost two years, Healthy Beginnings provided in-home support to help improve the health of not only 335 mothers and babies but the entire participating family.  For decades, Carle’s Community Health Initiative has provided a safety net for people who experience inconsistent access to healthcare and services. As the initiative continues to expand, programs like Healthy Beginnings and the Mobile Health Clinic (MHC) go one step further and meet more of those most in need close to home.

Y on the Fly. Our Y on the Fly Summer and After School program delivers Stephens Family YMCA programming serve more neighborhoods and more youth than ever before.  Y on the Fly is expanding its programs and services for early literacy through home visits, preschool, after school and summer programs.

Barbershop Books inspires kids to read for fun.  This award winning literacy program celebrates, amplifies and affirms the needs and interests of Black boys.  The barber shop serves as a library providing a bag of books in between cuts.  Customers under the age or five or older if reading ability is appropriate will be able to have access to books while getting their hair or or exchanging bags of book from visit to visit.  The barber shop will serve as a library.