Give Back, Give Books
REF supports Rochester literacy by providing books for Rochester City School District libraries and for students to take home.
Our goal is to spark joy and excitement about reading by focusing on books that have characters and themes that reflect the diversity of our students. To date, we have distributed nearly 80,000 new books to city students and city school libraries.
Donate Funds
REF has several ongoing literacy initiatives at schools across the city, and we need your support! You can always donate funds directly to REF to support the purchase of new books for city school classrooms and students' home libraries. High quality children's books can be purchased by us for as little as $7 per book.
Donate Books
REF gladly accepts donations of new books for students in grades K-12! We appreciate culturally sensitive books that will spark joy and the love of reading for our students.
Organize a Book Drive
Book drives are a fun, easy way to support Rochester students. Try organizing a book drive through your office or organization, club, sorority or fraternity, church group, sports team, or making a book drive part of your next birthday party or event. For more information, contact info@rochestereducation.org
Books Requested by Educators
Click below for specific book registries requested by city school teachers and librarians.
Thank you to our
Major Supporters!
Advantage Federal Credit Union, Todd Allen, Susan & John Fee, First American Equipment Finance, Joan Gerrity, Glover-Crask Charitable Trust, Mike Hudson, James M. Stone, The David Webb Foundation, Vahey Law Offices
“Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror.”