The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) in the Windermere Valley is partnering once again with the Christmas Bureau and the Rotary Club of Invermere to provide a “Book Under Every Tree” campaign this Christmas.

This project has been ongoing since 1998; our goal is to provide a book for every child 0-18 years of age whose families have applied for a Christmas hamper.

The Christmas Bureau gives CBAL a list of the age and gender of the children and teens and we match them with the books we receive.

CBAL is able to purchase additional books to fill in any gaps for books not donated through a generous donation from the Rotary club. Adult books are not put in the hampers; a table of books is laid out when the hampers are picked up for adults to pick books of interest to them.

Any donated books that are not given out with the hampers will be donated to libraries or other literacy programs.

CBAL staff will collect new and very gently used books for readers of all ages that community members drop off in collection boxes set up at Sobeys and AG Foods in Invermere until December 16.

Last year, the Book Under Every Tree placed well over 230 books into Christmas hampers. Numbers received so far through applications tell us we will need even more this year.

Please help give the gift of reading! If you have any questions about the Book Under Every Tree project or any of the other literacy program offered by CBAL please call Yolande Dolman at 250-342-9229 or email Katie Andruschuk at kandruschuk@cbal.org.