For some, memories of reading reach back to early childhood with nurseries and playrooms filled with books. The dream of Jim Davidson is that more children across the country will have those memories, and he is working toward that dream one bookcase at a time.
In 2005, Davidson started A Bookcase for Every Child, a nonprofit organization that gives personalized bookcases, along with a set of books, to preschoolers in low-income families. With those gifts, Davidson said, he hopes to spread the joy of reading to children and that they will take pride in filling up the bookcases as time goes on.
Literacy, Davidson said, is the key to solving a lot of society’s problems.
“It breaks my heart to watch the television news when you see the crime happening, and you know the root cause of a lot of that trouble is illiteracy,” he said. “The reason many kids drop out of school is that they start with a low vocabulary. When they’re young, they have a hard time keeping up, and when they’re big enough, they drop out altogether.”
A Bookcase for Every Child started in Conway, Davidson’s hometown, and has grown over a period of 10 years. In the past year, Davidson has made a push to bring his organization to more communities, including several in White, Independence and Stone counties.
“Recently, I have been in 10 different towns in Arkansas to start the process,” he said. “I have a goal to go to as many county seats as I can.”
That process is well thought out and tested over time. Davidson does not just go into a community and tell its leaders, “Your children need bookcases.” He has a plan that sets up leadership and support to make sure children in the community reap the benefits of this organization for years to come.
First of all, Davidson said, he is looking for key people in communities to serve on the central committee for the city’s branch of A Bookcase for Every Child.
“This is vital,” he said.
Included on each central committee are people who have strong community ties. Davidson said he usually looks for the director of the Head Start or ABC preschool program in the community, local media, a literacy-minded pastor of a large church, a banker, retired teachers and a craftsman who can lead in the building of the bookcases.
Davidson said he is adamant that the organization should not use tax money or grant money, so the bookcases are completely funded through donations. Over the past 10 years, he has found that hosting an annual banquet each year in the individual communities is the best way to raise funds for the program. Not only do people pay to attend the event, but he usually tries to get children from local schools involved, and that raises awareness of the organization’s mission.
“When you get those people together and the focus is on literacy, it is incredible what can happen,” he said.
In Conway, the banquet is held in mid-October so funds are raised in time for the craftsmen to build the bookcases in February or March. Each bookcase is personalized with the recipient child’s name; then the organization hosts an awards ceremony in mid-April, and families are invited to attend to see their children receive the bookcases.
Davidson said the awards ceremony can be a moving experience. He has seen parents and grandparents show just as much excitement as the children. Not only do the bookcases symbolize literacy, but they also show families that their neighbors put time and effort into raising funds, spending time and building something special for their children.
“Those parents really get to feeling the community really cared about them,” he said.
Davidson is currently looking for people interested in serving on the central committees in communities throughout Arkansas. He has started the process in several cities, including Beebe and Searcy, and said he is excited about the reception so far.
Those who are interested in serving on a committee or volunteering in other ways can contact Davidson at jimdavidson@conwaycorp.net.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.