English and Child Advocacy Complete Children’s Book Drive for Bridge of Books Foundation
Posted in: CHSS News, English Department, History Department, Social Work and Child Advocacy
Faculty, students, and staff from English, Social Work and Child Advocacy, History, and the Interdisciplinary School for Social Transformation completed a children’s book drive benefiting the Bridge of Books Foundation, donating 13 boxes of like‑new books for young readers across New Jersey. Bridge of Books provides an ongoing source of new and gently used books to children in underserved communities to support literacy and a love of reading.
The drive was organized by Wendy C. Nielsen (English Department), in collaboration with Jennifer Dudeck‑Lenis (Social Work and Child Advocacy) and Jeff Gonzalez (English), who delivered the donations to Bridge of Books in Monmouth County. Contributors included but are not limited to the Child Advocacy Club (President Jaclyn Alicea and Secretary Ashley Rahill, mentored by Nydia Monagas and Jennifer Dudeck‑Lenis), the English Club (advised by Jeffrey Gonzalez), Steffi Dippold (History and English), Laura Nicosia (English and ISST), Wendy Nielsen, their students, and English alumna Chloe Driscoll.
Access to books is access to possibility. This collaboration showed what our community can accomplish together—from student leaders and alumni to staff and faculty—so more New Jersey kids can become addicted to reading and the world of imagination.
– Wendy C. Nielsen, faculty organizer
About Bridge of Books Foundation
Founded in New Jersey in 2003, Bridge of Books has grown from a volunteer‑led effort into a statewide partner that collects and distributes books through drives, individual donations, publishers, and community events—always with the goal of getting as many books as possible into the hands of kids who need them.