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Fayette County

First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, each year First Book distributes millions of free and low-cost books to disadvantaged children and the programs that serve them.

According to Kids Count, over 32% of children in Fayette County live below the national poverty level. Fifty-six percent of our county’s kids live in high poverty neighborhoods. Fayette County’s First Book Advisory Board is committed to encouraging achievement and providing hope to these children in the form of new books. Despite circumstances, whether situational or generational poverty, the ownership of their own book may help a child to increase vocabulary and comprehension, travel the world, overcome obstacles, imagine, dream, and courageously persevere.

How to Receive Books

There are three ways in which First Book distributes books: through a network of volunteer Advisory Boards located across the country, through the First Book National Book Bank, and through the First Book Marketplace.

First Book-Fayette County provides new books to children through eligible community organizations like preschools, day care, after-school, and tutoring/mentoring programs. We accept book grant applications from local literacy programs that serve 70% or more children from low-income households. The children take home and keep the books that they receive.

First Book provides new books to children through eligible community organizations in the United States that serve children from low-income households. First Book does not provide direct financial support, nor does it provide books to individuals or to book drives. Most of the groups First Book serves are preschools, day care, after-school, and tutoring/mentoring programs.  

If you would like to learn more, please see Register with First Book.

For information on how to apply for a grant from our board, download the Grant Guidelines and Application (doc).

Book Grant Recipients

A typical book grant lasts for a six month period and offers each child in the program a steady diet of books (usually one book per month), all at no cost to the program. Because program administrators select the titles from the First Book Marketplace, our book grants enable programs — often for the first time — to select books to integrate into curriculum.

First Book Wants You!  

We are looking for passionate, entrepreneurial people who want to make a difference in their community. Help us get books to kids who need them most.  To learn more about volunteering with First Book Fayette County, WV please contact using the link below.

Contact Us

You can contact us by sending an email.