United Way of Lane County recently hosted BookFest at elementary schools, where over 7,500 books were distributed to K-2 students at 14 schools across eight school districts.
This annual event offers students at select locations the opportunity to choose and take home five new, free, age-appropriate books to read and enjoy over the summer break.
Between May 26 and June 5, United Way of Lane County distributed more than 7,500 books to over 1,500 elementary school students. This year’s BookFest was hosted at 14 elementary schools, identified as schools where students have the most opportunity to increase their reading scores, across eight school districts in Lane County, including Dorena and London elementary schools in South Lane, Marcola Elementary, as well as Guy Lee, Mt. Vernon, and Walterville elementary schools in Springfield, as well as Lundy Elementary in Lowell, Applegate Elementary in Lorane, Mapleton Elementary, and Howard, River Road, McCornack, and César Chávez elementaries in Eugene.
“By providing local students across our county with books they’ll love – and that they get to choose themselves – we’re increasing the likelihood that they will spend time reading over the summer,” said Alma Fumiko Hesus, President and CEO of United Way of Lane County.
“This helps keep children’s reading skills from slipping during the summer break as well as increases their likelihood of reading proficiently by third grade,” she said.
More than 80 volunteers from across Lane County lent a hand at BookFest 2026.
More info: unitedwaylane.org
