Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, is asking local residents with an interest in helping improve local literacy levels to donate new or good quality used books to his annual Kids Book Drive.

The book drive collects and then donates books to Kindergarten and Year 1 and 2 students at local schools to encourage them to keep reading over the summer holidays.

Residents of IRT Seaside have been collecting books for Mr Scully’s book drive for months to make a sizable first donation and they have committed to keep collecting until donations close on 6 December 2019.

Last year the book drive collected more than 600 books which provided two books per student in years Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 at four local schools – Cringila Public School, Warrawong Public School, Kemblawarra Public School and Lake Heights Public School.

Other books that were not suitable for these age groups were also donated to SASSHI to include in their Christmas bundles for local families.

“The community support for the kids book drive over the last two years has just been fantastic.

“The willingness of our local community to get involved and help out others where they can, never ceases to amaze me.”

“We know that kids who keep reading over summer are better able to continue their learning when they come back to school in February”, Mr Scully said.

“When I was a kid, every Christmas there was always a book in my presents, and I used to love getting that book.

“Some kids don’t have lots of books at home, or aren’t confident readers, and I hope that this will help them. Having a book that’s all yours to take home and read is a special thing”, Mr Scully said.

Books can be donated until 6 December 2019 at Mr Scully’s electorate office at G2 51 Crown Street Wollongong or his office can be contacted to make other arrangements.