Community Outreach

The Book Shelf Program at the Issaquah Food Bank aims to promote family reading, strong literacy development, and library participation.  Over the last twenty years through the program, Food Bank clients have selected over 65,000 books to add to their home libraries, enjoy reading, and pass along to other family members and friends.

 Book Shelf was initiated through Friends of the Issaquah Library (FOIL) with a three-year grant matching grant from the King County Library Foundation. After that, FOIL, supported the program, through its books sales and community book donations. Most recently, the King County Library Foundation is again providing funds for the program in partnership with the FOIL volunteer support.

Food Bank clients are encouraged to select one or two books per child each time they visit the Food Bank in order to build a “book shelf” at home.  Books are organized on a rolling cart by type, approximate grade ranges, and language.  Volunteers initiate conversation, encourage browsing, and assist finding books of interest.

Families who are unable to come to the Food Bank may request Book Shelf books be sent to them once a month with their food in the Groceries to Go program.  Issaquah Library staff come to the Food Bank to distribute Book Shelf books right before school vacations in the Lunch for the Break program.

Please contact Ann Fletcher fletcherann@msn.com to find out ways you could help with the Book Shelf program.  Contact Michelle Whalen michelle@issaquahfoodbank.orgat the Issaquah Food Bank if you want to directly sign up on the schedule to volunteer with distributing the books.