For children in poverty, one of the biggest obstacles to literacy development (which begins at birth) is the scarcity of books in the home. While the ratio of books to children in middle-income neighborhoods is approximately 13 books to 1 child, the ratio in low-income neighborhoods is 1 book to 300 children. The Children’s Book Bank seeks to get more books into the hands and homes of young children who might not otherwise have books of their own. Come lend a hand as we spruce-up, sort and bundle donated books which will later be distributed to low-income preschool children in the Portland area!