aries28, you may want to check out this publisher. they have a bookstore that sells childrens books at a discounted price. i don’t know for sure, but i have a feeling they may be willing to either give you a huge discount due to the worthiness of the cause, or maybe give you some things for free. i know they do a ton for teachers around here. i’ll see if i can find out a contact person and let you know who to speak with. what an awesome thing you are doing!!! 
Aries, a previous poster mentioned their local library having a big booksale. Just this next weekend I will be attending such a sale in Topeka. Books are cheap! If you just need kid’s books end me an email and I’ll pick up a bag and mail it along to you. If you need specific titles I’ll try and look around.
I can’t add much to what people have already listed about grant sites and such, but I could get them on my own for you. You may be leery about giving out a mailing address, but I have Dopers who would vouch for me.(Heh, heh)
Yes, Aries, is there some way we can get stuff to you? I mean, an address you’d feel comfortable sharing (maybe work, if they don’t mind you receiving packages there).
My email is in my profile. I’ve got some stuff to send already.
I too, am ready and willing to help. I spend a LOT of time in used books stores… throwing a couple extra kids books into the pile won’t change the cost by enough to fret over. Give me a place to ship them and away they go!
Aries I would love to send your kids some Idaho Spuds (the candy bars not the potatos) my treat so email me and let me know how many to send. Please Put SDMB in the subject, I get alot of spam and don’t want to miss your email. I am leaving tonight for a weeks road trip. I won’t be able to read my email until next week. But will send off the candy within a few days of returning.
Aries, I know this sounds really weird, but check to see if there are any Star Trek Klingon clubs in your area. For some reason, the Klingon clubs are heavily into service work (maybe as a counter to their warrior image?), and I’ll bet you could get some great help from them.
And if you post an address we could ship books to or a way to get one from you, there’s a semi-annual library book sale here in New Orleans that sells books by the inch. What age books are you looking for primarily? I’d be glad to pick up a bag full and send them to you.
Many cities have a Chinatown that has really interesting candies. I think it would be cheaper for you to explore the web for candies from East Asia. The graphics were mind blowing to some of my former students.
I found this site for imported foods (you may want to avoid the dried fish unless you are going for the gross-out factor.)
Tinkertoy, those Spuds are great! I saw them on an episode of “Food Finds”, on the Food Channel, and was intrigued. Ordered some and fell in love.
Aries28, if you wanted a Christmas craft project, I have an idea. As a baker I do a gingerbread house each year for a community fundraiser. I could send along the plans for a simple house, with directions for making and baking. I’d include some of the basic equipment, tips, bags, and such, as well. Hopefully you could get the ingredients like flour and sugar locally. And I’d send copies of pictures I’ve taken of many houses over the last few years, at the annual display. It’s creative, and the whole class could get involved. I remember when one of my houses was auctioned off to a trustee of the hospital I was working at. He donated it to an elementary school where some of his grandkids attended. After it was installed I went over to do some minor repairs, and while I was there the end of day bell rang. Suddenly I was up to my armpits in little kids wanting to know all about it. I think kids are starved for things they can make on their own, not just toys that do everything and leave nothing to the imagination. Pant, pant I’ll get off my soapbox now.
And as I said in my earlier post, send me an email about what kind of books you need, and I can snag some next weekend.
Aries I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this project.
If you have any specific books you are looking for…or whatever else, please email me. I am always ( I mean always) on the look out for books.)
Aries28, I would also love to donate some children’s books (and other supplies) too.
Just let me know where and it’s a done deal.
I have two children who are rapidly growing up (much faster than me) and have shelves o fchildren’s books that I would love to donate to a good cause. Like yours.
I will send a box if you can supply a mailing address.
I am of the firm belief that books are the greatest gift a child can receive.
I, too, have lots of childrens’ books I would be willing to donate. My e-mail is in the profile. Let me know if you would like them. If you need a list of what I have, let me know. I would also be willing to kick in a couple of big bags of candy. I can get those huge bags from Sam’s and Costco.
Ask someone who could use helping you as good publicity. Who’s running for office in your area? You get money/supplies/publicity, they get good vibes in the community - it’s a win / win situation.
What about contacting your local tv station? I’m sure if there was a human interest type piece on the evening news you’d get all sorts of donations.
You might think about contacting elementary schools in more affluential areas of the region or the country. The other school could do a community service type fundraiser where each kid donates a book and if they raise 250 books the whole school gets an ice cream party or something.
Don’t be afraid to ask large corporations. They have PR offices who coordinate these types of things and they have budgets for them too! You might actually be able to get someone to commit to funding a certain amount * every year*.
Can you ask one of the authors of the books to come do a reading for them? Maybe you could get a book by a local author which also would probably make it more likely that the person would come visit. (here’s one link to start - I googled on “children’s books author alabama” http://www.charlesghigna.com/visits.html/ )
Maybe a company that makes school uniforms would be willing to give/sell at a deep discount the clothes that have a slight problem with them ( I forgot what these are called ).
Best wishes to you and your kids.
Oh yeah! How could I have forgotten – I used to work there (duh!). How about contacting the Mattel Children’s Foundation. All the info you need, including contact name, address, phone number, email, etc. is listed on that link. The only thing that appears to not be correct is the link to the Mattel Children’s Foundation’s official website, which can be found here. And there is more contact information to request toy donations from Mattel, Fisher Price & The Pleasant Company here.
Aries, I have tons of childrens/young readers books that I’d be more than happy to send your way. I’ll gladly pay the shipping. A lot of them are from series that are still popular with kids. (They were mine, but I’m not that old. 
)
As a teacher and an art major, I’d also be thrilled to send small quantities of art and school supplies, (Crayons, paper, watercolors etc.) if your kids could use them.
My email is in my profile. Just tell me where to send them.
Aries, I have a 12-year-old daughter who is a reading fool! I’m sure that once I tell her about your cause, she’d be more than happy to thin out her own personal library, and donate some books to your classroom. My email is in my profile. If you don’t feel comfortable posting an address here where the books can be sent, just email me an address. Unfortunately, money is too tight for us right now for me to buy books for your class, but even I can afford to ship a few used books we have laying around!
WOW! I go home for the weekend, log on Monday morning and I have all these GREAT ideas and wonderful offers!!!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!
I will start responding to you individually as time permits today.
I don’t want to post my address here (no offense) but I’ll send it to each of you who volunteered to send books and other items. Again, thank you!
Some more info… My specific class are 4th graders but the school I help out in is K-5 through 5th grade.
Any books can be used as long as they are in semi-good condition. A lot of my kids can’t read on a 4th grade level so don’t worry about the books being too easy.
The program I am involved with (MORE) is an offshoot of another program called Better Basics. (www.betterbasics.org)
This is a nonprofit group funded by businesses, organizations and private donations. In 1998 the United Way began giving us some funds. There are 400 staff and volunteers associated with this program.
To give you an idea of how many kids we reach each year…during the 2001-2002 school year over 20,000 books were awarded to kids. This past year we awarded almost 35,000.
Again, my sincere appreciation to everyone who responded and offered to help.
I will contact everyone soon.
I’ve had a thought. Bear with me, I’m fueled by two cups of java and chocolate banana nut bread this AM.
Since it is well known that Dopers are voracious readers and firm believers in the love of a good book and suckers for kids ::::wait for it:::: what about having some kind of book fairy for the kids.
Kids make individual lists of books they are interested in…or subjects that they are interested in…and dopers sign on for some anonymous one on one book donation for said child. Like a once a month thing. Throughout the school year.
I’ve done something like this at Xmas at Borders for some less fortunate youth and I will tell you, that is one of the best and most funnest $10-20 bucks I’ve ever spent.
Just a thought.
Okay…I’ve been in the office for almost 1 1/2 hours and so far done nothing but respond to you guys and think about this project…boy, I’m glad my boss is out of town this week!
First of all, again…THANK YOU to everyone who responded or even took a few minutes to think about these kids, this school and this project. I can assure you they appreciate it.
Lynn…cool website…I will definitely check it out close to Christmas when I’m buying crayons and the like for the kids! Thanks!
Shayna great websites and advice. I will check them out.
Altoid these are 4th graders…they would LOVE if I got them dried fish for nothing BUT the gross out factor!!! Thanks for the site though! I’ll keep it in mind.
Lamar Mundane I tried to email you directly but my email won’t go through???
Shirley Super cool idea! Hill o Beans also suggested a Doper Book Drive. I will mull these over today and post something tomorrow.
I think it would be a fantastic idea. If people didn’t want to commit to once a month I would be happy with either doing it around the holidays or before the school year ends in the spring.
I can tell you right now some of the things I get the most requests for:
Goosebumps books
Highlights magazine
ZooBooks magazine (www.zoobooks.com)
American Girl books
Books about magic
Sports Illustrated for Kids
Last year I bought the classroom a subscription to Highlights and ZooBooks magazines and they kids went nuts. I was only able to afford to get one subscription but the teacher would make copies of certain articles/puzzles/games and distribute them. They were a HUGE hit. Even “old” copies of magazines are appreciated.