June Updates for Our Lead to Read KC Friend!

That's how many Lead to Read KC distributed during the 2025-26 school year — a new record. That astronomical number is roughly 16,000 higher than the previous year and breaks down to more than 4,500 books distributed per month. 🤯

The 39% increase reflects growth on two fronts: expanded school gifting through the ever-growing Reading Mentoring program, and several new, high-volume Reading Is Everywhere basket locations. Right now, we have an astonishing 88 basket locations across the metro, each replenished monthly by dedicated outreach volunteers with fresh selections.

But improving book access throughout the city isn't just about distribution numbers. It's about putting the right books in kids' hands: high-interest, high-quality books like graphic novels. The right books get kids excited to read and help prevent the summer slide.

A recent program evaluation by Michelle Hartman of Rockhurst University surveyed Reading Is Everywhere basket visitors and found strong evidence the program is working:

We couldn't accomplish any of this without the businesses, groups, and individuals who helped collect, process, and deliver books throughout the past year. We're especially grateful to those who host annual book drives. Because of them, no child ever finds an empty basket.

Reading Mentoring Wraps with Kona Ice Celebrations

Reading Mentors closed out the school year alongside the students they've spent all year cheering on. See it all in the photo montages linked below. This is what community looks like. Thank you for being part of ours.

Episode 1 - Eugene Ware • Quality Hill • Santa Fe

Episode 2 - Boone • Banneker KCK • Trailwoods • Wendell Phillips

Episode 3 - Brookside • Central Street • Frank Rushton • James • Whittier

Episode 4 - AFIA • Genesis • Hale Cook

Episode 5 - Gordon Parks • Indian Creek • Pitcher

Episode 6 - Faxon • Frontier • Garfield • West Park • Wheatley

Episode 7 - Académie Lafayette • Truman

SAVE THE DATE | Reading Mentors, join us for a free Back to School BBQ, supported by Security 1st Title, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 20 at 28 Event Spaces.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR | Trivia Night will be Thursday, September 17 at Brew Lab. Enjoy drinks, dinner, and some friendly competition with prizes for top-scoring teams!

SUMMER VOLUNTEERING | Join the Outreach Team to help staff community events, or process book donations at an upcoming Book Fulfillment or Book Sorting shift.

FALL REMINDER | Site Coordinators will reach out to 2026-27 Reading Mentors in August, and Reading Sessions will begin again in September.

LET'S GET SOCIAL | Follow Lead to Read KC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, and please like, subscribe, comment on, and share our posts.

As a Korean immigrant Erica Lee knows firsthand the challenges of learning in a new language, so she fit mentoring into her schedule around hospital night shifts.

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Creating a community of readers, one lunch hour at a time since 2011.

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