How to Donate Books to Children in the Hospital
Many hospitals have reading programs for their pediatric patients, and most are grateful for your donation of books. Here's how to donate books to children in the hospital.
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Instructions
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Call your local hospital and ask if the hospital has an existing program for donating books. Most do. North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Massachusetts, for example, has a "Ready 2 Read" program for its pediatric patients; the hospital also welcomes volunteers who want to read to children. Some hospitals, such as Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, have an in-hospital bookmobile.
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Choose only new or gently-used books to donate. While it seems that this would be a positive way to clear out those boxes of books in the garage, be sure that the books are in excellent condition. Because of the potential for mold or excessive dust, which are health risks, such a donation may end up making more work for the hospital.
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Choose titles that are popular with children. If you're not sure what books would be most welcome, ask. Your local hospital may have a "wish list" of popular titles, or you could ask someone who specializes in children's literature at your local library or elementary school.
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Think beyond the "book." Magazine subscriptions, coloring books, and DVDs are also welcome and appreciated.
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Do not wrap your donation. According to guidelines from Children's Hospital of Boston, all donations must be checked before being passed on to patients.
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Tips & Warnings
You may also want to investigate other organizations that may help you with making the right choices when it comes to making a donation. For example, "Reach Out and Read" is a national program that has branches in many children's hospitals, where the national program is working to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care.
