Beaverton, OR -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/08/2014 -- Access to books is critical to children as they learn to read. Local nonprofit organization Assistance League® of Greater Portland (http://www.portland.assistanceleague.org) is collecting new and gently used books for children up to age 10. The public is invited to participate in the Make A Difference Day Book Drive by bringing children’s books to any of the following locations.

Drop off new and gently used books at these locations:

A Child’s Way Kindergarten Preschool
Assistance League Consignment & Thrift Shops
Congregation Shaarie Torah
Else Stuhr Center
Garden Home Recreation Center
St. John Fisher School
US Bank Beaverton Branch

Last year, member volunteers, in conjunction with local businesses and community groups, collected 2,700 books in the Beaverton area. The book drive is an initiative of Assistance League chapters across the nation. Nationally, in 2012, Assistance League was one of 10 Honorees of the USA WEEKEND Make A Difference Day promotion for the book drives, and in 2013, the organization won the All-Star Award for the book drives, with 103,036 books collected nationally. Make A Difference Day 2014 is Saturday, October 25th.

Recipients of Assistance League’s book drive will include the Aloha Community Library, Children’s Book Bank in Portland, Cordero House, a Janus Youth program and the Operation School Bell®, which is run by Assistance League. Spanish language books and books that reflect the diverse population in the community are especially needed.

About Assistance League of Greater Portland
Assistance League of Greater Portland has served the local community with philanthropic programs since 1965. The organization is celebrating 50 years of community service. Local programs provide new clothing for school children in need, emergency clothing and hygiene kits for victims of assault, life story books for foster children and enrichment activities for troubled youth in a residential treatment facility. Programs are funded through special events, donations, grants and the all volunteer staffed Assistance League Thrift and Consignment Shops at 4000 SW 117th Avenue in Beaverton, OR.