Book Wagon began in November 2006 with one old red Radio Flyer and 50 books. Since then, at least once a month and often twice, Book Wagon volunteers fill two boxes of around 100 books each-new and gently used-aimed at children between the ages of 5-13- one box is loaded with picture books, the other with chapter books. The boxes are then loaded into a red (now newer) wagon and brought to one of the nine Salt Lake County housing sites. Fashioned after the Book Mobile of our childhood, volunteers encourage each child to choose up to two books to take home, but rather than simply borrowing the books, they get to keep them for their own. Since Book Wagon's inception, over 750 books have landed in the hands of nearly 300 children.
*Book Wagon is a Housing Opportunities, Inc. program. Housing Opportunities, Inc. is a 50I(c) 3 nonprofit organization that provides onsite supportive services to the residents of nine low-income family housing sites in Salt Lake County, which are owned and managed by the Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake. HACSL is a full service housing authority that assists individuals, families, elderly, physically and mentally disabled residents who are low income. Donations to Book Wagon are tax-deductible.
