Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read is a national, non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric primary care.  Reach Out and Read enhances the literacy development of children by reaching them at an early age and providing parents with the information, support, and materials they need to make books a part of their children’s lives. 

The Reach Out and Read program at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport was started in 1998 and we are currently in our twelfth successful year of making books part of a healthy childhood.  We serve between 6,000 and 7,000 of our community’s low-income children and their families every year.  By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading.

Ways to Give to Reach Out and Read

The Reach Out and Read program at LSUHSC-S depends on the support of the community for the success of our program.  There are several ways to show your support:

• Make a gift to Reach Out and Read (Please make checks payable to LSUHC Foundation and specify Reach Out and Read in the memo section).  Each $25.00 donation will purchase 10 books – a book at each well-child visit from 6 months to 5 years of age.
• Volunteer once a month to read to children in the well-child waiting room.
• Donate gently used books your children have outgrown to the Reach Out and Read program.  These books are placed in the waiting rooms and eventually go home with children.