Budding Readers has ongoing partnerships with a variety of local and community programs. It does take a village to raise a child and Budding Readers is proud to be part of the “village”. Budding Readers, and the organizations we partner with, work together to improve the current life and future outcomes for the children we serve.
Budding Readers has always felt that we can do more together. The books we gift to children in our partner organizations are given to children we would otherwise not have access to. Likewise, our partner programs have been able to enhance their offerings by providing free books to the children they serve.
These partnerships include:
- Working relationships with local libraries in the eight Ontario County communities we serve. You will find their library hours on their respective community pages.
- Working relationships with the school districts in the eight communities we serve, especially at the UPK, Kindergarten and First Grade levels. Budding Readers has given a new book to each UPK and Kindergarten child since 2013, which became three times per year in 2020. First Grade was added in 2023. Budding Readers also provides a set of eight books for each of these teachers to use in their classroom during the school year.
- Our relationship with Family Promise – Ontario County began in 2018. The Family Promise program works with homeless families helping them to secure employment and independent housing. Budding Readers provides a “bundle of books” for each child from birth to age 11 when the family “graduates” from the program and is in their own independent housing.
- The Family Visiting Area of Attica Correctional Facility became a partner in 2023 when we proudly provided books for children visiting family members at the Correctional Facility. Children are permitted to take them home if they desire.
- A partner relationship with F. F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua began in 2012. Pre-pandemic, our volunteers attended over 100 childbirth classes, chatted with expectant parents about the importance of reading to their babies, and gave each new family a “bundle” of books. Thompson Hospital has not returned to in-person classes, however, parents can still receive a bundle of books from Budding Readers when they enroll in the new video class, InJoy.
- There is currently a hiatus in our relationship with the Finger Lakes WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Office in Canandaigua. NYS WIC is in the process of re-evaluating their service model and are operating remotely while they determine what role in-person appointments will play. This was our largest and most long-standing partnership, beginning in 2010. A new book went home with each child at each appointment. Over 27, 000 books have been gifted to WIC children.
- A relationship with Healthy Families – Ontario, Yates, and Seneca County began in 2018. The Healthy Families program (part of Child & Family Resources) works with high-risk families to improve outcomes for the children. They work with families from birth using weekly home visits to teach positive parenting and interaction with their babies. Budding Readers provides books for families; the home educators do a wonderful job of teaching parents how to read with their babies.
- Honeoye Cooperative Nursery School – books are provided for the children three times each year including a visit from Santa and his elf at Christmas time.
- Honeoye Public Library – works with the local Honeoye Budding Readers volunteers to provide storage space for books and materials as well as involving Budding Readers in their library events for young children.
- The relationship with the Kiwanis Club of Canandaigua began in 2023 when we supported their literacy initiative with books that were made available to children and families around Canandaigua. In addition, Budding Readers provides books for their annual Christmas party for needy children in Canandaigua.
- The relationship with the Kiwanis Club of Farmington-Victor began in 2018 when we first provided books for the needy children for whom they provide an annual Christmas party. We have continued in that role.
- Keeping Our Promise is a comprehensive resettlement program based in Rochester, NY. It serves Afghan, Iraqi and Kurdish translators and other war support personnel who have fled those countries and settled in the U.S. Budding Readers has partnered with them since 2023 to provide books for the children learning English and to promote academic success.
- A coordinated partnership with The Naples Public Library has existed for many years. The library stores books and materials for the Naples group of Budding Readers, and the library welcomes Budding Readers volunteers to make all their bundle deliveries at the library. Additionally, the library keeps the Naples group informed about the children’s library events so that we may contribute books when appropriate.
- One of our recent partners is Ontario County Public Health. (2024) They have stepped into the local void of in-person childbirth education classes. Budding Readers will gladly provide a “bundle” of books for each expectant parent.
- The Rotary Club of Naples, NY has been a partner for a number of years. They run the Operation Santa Program for needy families at Christmas time, with Budding Readers providing books for the children. Budding Readers also provides books for UPK and Kindergarten children that are gifted by the Rotary at Christmas.
- Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes is another new partnership started 2024. They serve victims of sexual and interpersonal violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking. We are pleased to provide books for the children living in their newly established shelter.
- Our relationship with Saint’s Place began in 2022. They provide household goods, clothing, and educational assistance to legal refugees of all races and creeds who settle in the Rochester, NY area. Budding Readers proudly provides books to assist both adults and children with learning English.
- School 54 in Rochester, also known as Flower City School 54, has been a partner since 2021 receiving books from Budding Readers to promote classroom success. In 2023 we voted to “adopt” the school and treat it as we treat our Ontario County schools, meaning to provide free books for the children to take home three times per year, and to provide an annual pack of books for teachers to use in their classrooms.