Book Harvest kicks off its second decade with its 10th annual Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration on the afternoon of Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, Jan. 18. Part of the National Day of Service, this newly designed, contactless drive-through celebration of kids and books will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at Durham Central Park.

Community members are invited to bring donations of new and gently used children’s books to Dream Big, where popular children’s book characters will be on hand to cheer on attendees as they drive up and to help unload their book donations. All donated books will be provided to children in Durham and beyond through Book Harvest’s many programs. All attendees will also enjoy free, new string backpacks full of children’s books to take home and keep forever.

So far, 107 people and organizations throughout the Triangle have signed up to run Dream Big book drives in their neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, congregations, and civic groups, in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. Learn more about these book drives at bookharvestnc.org/get-involved/run-a-book-drive.

“Dream Big is a sensational opportunity to celebrate Dr. King and participate in our National Day of Service – and to make a real difference in the lives and imaginations of our community’s kids,” said Ginger Young, Book Harvest founder.

“While we are sad that we cannot gather together for this celebration of kids and books – as we have for the past nine years – we are thrilled that our community is coming together at this extraordinary time. Together, we can keep learning alive with books and help realize our vision of a world in which reading, learning and access to information are considered rights, not privileges, so that all children can thrive.”

More than 42,000 new and gently used children’s books were collected at Book Harvest’s 2020 Dream Big Book Drive and Community Celebration – part of the more than 1.4 million books children have harvested since Book Harvest’s founding in 2011.