COOS BAY, Ore. – Just in time for the new school year, nurses at Bay Area Hospital have partnered with education resource group First Book and community members to donate more than 1,000 books to local children during this year’s Bay Area Fun Festival Parade. This is the second consecutive year local nurses, represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), have sponsored a book drive and distributed free books during the festival.
“This book drive makes a difference for the families in our community and helps get books into the hands of kids who need them,” said local registered nurse and chair of ONA’s bargaining unit at Bay Area Hospital Gary Salcedo. “Nurses received so much positive feedback after last year’s book drive that we pledged to double our donations this year. Thanks to our community’s help, we’re going to succeed.”
Nurses have already purchased more than 1,000 new books through First Book to distribute during this year’s Fun Festival Parade and will continue collecting donations of new and gently-used books from hospital staff and community members through Sept. 14. If you’d like to donate, you can drop off books in good condition at the book drive collection area outside Bay Area Hospital’s cafeteria. Donated books should be intended for children ages 2 to 13.
“Increasing childhood literacy is an important way to improve our children’s lives and their health,” said local registered nurse and ONA labor relations representative Lori Shott. “ONA nurses are proud to work together with our community to help cultivate a love of reading in Coos Bay and set our children up to lead happy, healthy lives.”
ONA nurses will distribute the free books to children during the Bay Area Fun Festival Parade Saturday, Sept. 16. The parade begins at 1 p.m. at the corner of 4th St. and Golden Avenue in downtown Coos Bay.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents more than 350 registered nurses (RNs) at Bay Area Hospital and more than 14,000 RNs statewide. It is a nonprofit association and a labor union representing Oregon nurses. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. Learn more at www.OregonRN.org.
First Book is the largest and fastest-growing network of educators in the United States exclusively serving kids in need. It works with educators and other service-oriented organizations to create equal access to quality education and help provide high-quality books, educational resources, equipment and more to children in need. Learn more at www.FirstBook.org.
