Los Fresnos News

Three Elementary School Libraries Receive Grants for New Books

151203 Books LRE

Pictured are LRE students (from left) Micaela Vega, Vashti Garcia, Liliana Latrraga and Jonathan Garcia.

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

Los Fresnos CISD elementary schools have received more than 1,800 new children’s books through a grant from the Molina Foundation in California.

Librarians at the three schools – Lopez-Riggins Elementary, Olmito Elementary and Villareal Elementary – completed grant applications in November for the pleasure reading books. They received the books Tuesday.

The books are targeted for students in grades Pre-K to 2. Books are intended to go home with children as opposed to building a classroom library.

Los Fresnos CISD libraries were nominated to apply for the grants by the TEA Region One Service Center. Schools applying had to represent a Title I school.

Each school received enough books to distribute one to each student. Lopez-Riggins and Olmito each received 630 books, and Villarreal Elementary received 578 books. There were 8-10 different titles of books eat each school. Some of the titles are in Spanish.

The Molina Foundation is a national nonprofit organization focused on reducing disparities in access to education and health. For the past 10 years, the foundation has worked with more than 1,000 organizations and schools towards this end, donating more than three million new children’s books and hosting workshops and programs for educators and families.