Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, said it was heart-warming to have more than a thousand books donated to encourage kids to keep reading over the summer holidays.

Despite the hardship of the extended lockdown, Wollongong residents have once again dug deep to donate books.

Large donations were made by the Children’s Book Council of Australia Illawarra sub-branch, Wests Illawarra and Good360 and many local small business owners, parents and grandparents.

“The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze me, and I am pleased that so many people have been able to support my book drive again this year”, Mr Scully said.

“Over the past few days I’ve been out to local schools to drop off the books to students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2.”

“At each school I’ve been met by smiling faces and incredibly excited kids thrilled to be taking home books to read, share and keep.”

“Thank you to everyone who donated books this year – I know that they will be thoroughly enjoyed”, Mr Scully said.

Additional books and those for older and younger children were also able to be donated to SAHSSI to go into Christmas hampers for women and children who have had to leave their home due to domestic and family violence.