Graining Ground Literacy visits “book deserts” with new bus

TULSA, Oklahoma – Gaining Ground Literacy’s brand new bus is full of stories that young people can use to escape reality.

After driving a 1991 school bus for nearly six years, it was time for an upgrade. It was also an important step to keep up with the literacy group’s mission.

“It’s served us well, but it’s gotten to the point where we’ve had to cancel routes a couple of times this summer,” said Assistant Principal Kirby Mackenzie. “We don’t like to cancel. We want our kids to know that when we say we’re coming on Wednesday, we’re going to be there on Wednesday at the time we say we’re coming. We want to make sure we’re a reliable part of their week.”

A new vehicle brings more reliability to the group and the community.

Gaining Ground is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that all children in the Tulsa area have access to books, especially during the summer. To that end, Gaining Ground brings the books to the children.

SEE: Jenks also has a mobile library called “Trojans Read the Way”

Trojans Read the Way Summer Program

Since there are about seven partner schools between Tulsa Public Schools and Union, the bookmobile must reach many children.

Mackenzie and the Gaining Ground team go to “book deserts” so that no child has to go without a book just because they don’t have access to one.

“During the summer, we do about three rounds a week and see 100 to 150 kids on each round,” said Kirby Mackenzie, assistant director of Gaining Ground. “Many weeks, there are over 500 kids in the Tulsa community. Each child is encouraged to take at least two books, which means we get about 1,000 books into the hands of kids from East and North Tulsa each week.”

Gaining Ground funds its work through donations and brings stories and literacy skills closer to the community.

For donations, the group has a Venmo account under the name @ggliteracy so they can purchase popular books that are popular with children.

Those interested also have the opportunity to volunteer at Gaining Ground events.

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