Why kids need books
Families living in poverty cannot afford books for their children and school achievement is affected.
The cost of living in Orange County is 87 percent higher than the national average.
The child poverty rate is 29 percent in the low income areas we serve.
In those communities, kindergarten readiness is under 39 percent.
Only half of Orange County children meet third grade standards for literacy.
[Orange County Community Indicators Report, 2018 and 2020-2021; United States Department of Education]