My name is Lauren Cochran and   I am a Team Leader and Independent Consultant with Usborne Books & More. I am running a Book Drive in order to donate books to the Back to School Fair that is hosted by Heart-n-Hand Ministries, West Central Missouri Community Action Agency, and Belton Mt. Pleasant Community Welfare Association.

These organizations work together to provide a backpack with basic school supplies to students in need in the Cass County area.    It is my personal goal to be able to provide each child with one new book in their backpack along with those basic supplies. Last year, they donated over 300 backpacks! In order to accomplish this goal, I am utilizing our Literacy For A Lifetime program.

"LITERACY for a LIFETIME is a partnership that aligns local businesses with Educational Development Corporation in support of neighborhood schools and organizations. We offer a 50% matching grant for each dollar a local business contributes. For example, when you donate $500, we match with an additional $250 and the local organization receives a total of $750 in educational material."

I will be collecting donations through Friday, July 22, 2019. Are you a local business or organization that would like to donate? I will place a bookplate in each book that your donation paid for! Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions that you might have. We all truly appreciate your generosity. Thank you so much for considering a donation to support this worthy cause!