June is Pride Month – an annual civil rights celebration dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community coming together and enjoying the freedom to be themselves. As part of our mission to provide children with access to books and stories that reflect their shared experiences, Scholastic is donating books to Hope in a Box and The Door – two nonprofits that serve LGBTQIA+ youth.
Hope in a Box has created a step-by-step program for educators to build LGBTQIA+-friendly classrooms across the country, including curated booklists, curriculum, community-building resources, and more for in-person and virtual learning. Scholastic has donated books to Hope in a Box to provide LGBTQIA+-focused titles that will be distributed to rural public schools in the United States.
“Having support from one of the most storied and active publishers in the world is a sign that this is a cause that everyone can and should get behind. It's not a niche issue, it shouldn't be a wedge issue,” says Joe English, Founder, Hope in a Box. “It’s a human conversation about how we can help make kids and students feel welcome in schools. To have an organization like Scholastic behind us is a show of confidence that they’re not alone, and we’re so grateful.”
At The Door, young people can access a variety of key assistance services such as housing support, health care, mental health counseling, crisis intervention, educational and career development services, as well as recreational activities, and nutritious meals – all for free, in a diverse, caring, and supportive environment. Scholastic’s donation will be used to provide an LGBTQIA+-focused library for the community.
“Young people come to The Door to find a safe space, to rest, and to connect to community and resources,” says Bailey Huguley, Director of Partnerships & Special Gifts at The Door. “Scholastic's book donation will help us create a lending library for our runaway and homeless youth drop-in center. Having reading material available that is reflective of the experiences and identities of The Door's members increases representation and also encourages reading, educational engagement, and creative thinking. Thank you, Scholastic!”
