Close

Important COVID-19 information: Our Programs | FAQs | Resources for families

Back to News

July 19, 2017

Carolina Strong Book Drive honors legacy of Cynthia Graham Hurd

By Kenya Cummings, VISTA Development Coordinator, Reading Partners South Carolina

(This post was updated in June 2018)

Summertime in the Lowcountry is marked by tourists, hot temperatures, beach trips, and now, books! An annual month-long book drive calls for community members to dig into their collections and donate new/gently used children’s books. The books will be donated to Reading Partners and will help encourage Charleston’s students to develop a love of reading while honoring the life and legacy of the late Cynthia Graham Hurd, lost in the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME shooting.

Cynthia was a lifelong Charleston resident and 31-year librarian with Charleston County Public Library. The Cynthia Graham Hurd Foundation for Literacy and Civic Engagement was established to continue Cynthia’s work and legacy of engaging the community through her love and appreciation for reading. As a librarian, Cynthia stirred a passion for reading across generations and literary genres. The Foundation honors Cynthia’s life by advocating for the expansion of literacy and access to books.

“We are encouraging everyone to di their summer cleaning—in the garage and kids’ bedrooms—to collect and donate books. The Cynthia Graham Hurd Foundation would be more than happy to take those books off your hands,” says Malcolm Hurd, Cynthia’s brother.

Reading Partners South Carolina is proud to partner with the Cynthia Graham Hurd Foundation to create a positive, lasting impact in our community out of this tragedy. We encourage the Charleston community to get involved by donating new or gently used children’s books for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Donation bins are located at all six Charleston County Public Library locations.

The goal is to collect 6,000 books for students to build their own home libraries and foster a love of reading beyond the classroom. This year, sponsors include Channel 5, Mellow Mushroom, and Charleston County Public Libraries. Each sponsor is working to ensure our success by spreading awareness and providing support in the community.

“Reading Partners supplements in-school tutoring with a ‘Take Reading Home’ component, which the book drive will directly impact. Each student enrolled in Reading Partners brings home more than 30 books per year,” says Reading Partners Board Chairman Richard Star. “This is a practice that will further foster a love of reading in students, their siblings, and the rest of the family.”

Please bring your new or gently used children’s book donations to one of these locations.

  •  Dorchester Road Regional Library
    6325 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, 843-552-6466
  • Hurd/St. Andrews Regional Library
    1735 N. Woodmere Drive, Charleston, 843-766-2546
  • John’s Island Regional Library
    3531 Maybank Highway, John’s Island, 843-559-1945
  • Main Library
    68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, 843-805-6930
  • Mt. Pleasant Regional Library
    1133 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, 843-849-6161
  • Otranto Road Regional Library
    2261 Otranto Road, North Charleston, 843-572-4094

Drop off points at four Mellow Mushroom locations:

  • Mellow Mushroom North Charleston
    4855 Tanger Outlet Blvd., North Charleston
  • Mellow Mushroom Summerville
    1306 North Main St., Summerville
  • Mellow Mushroom West Ashley
    19 Magnolia Rd., Charleston
Americorps
  • Logo for Accelerate
  • Logo for Five Below
  • Logo for Hellman Foundation
  • Logo for Bezos Family Foundation
  • Logo for George Kaiser Family Foundation
  • Logo for Panda Cares
  • Logo for The Duke Endowment
  • Logo for Deerbrook Charitable Trust

Thanks to our partners

Site by Vermilion Credits Privacy Policy ©2024 Reading Partners