We are excited to announce a new campaign to purchase a new, all-accessible, A.D.A.-compliant Big Red Reading Bus! Our successful bus program will add a second vehicle to ensure everyone can comfortably board the Bus and shop for their books. The impact of an additional vehicle will be increased reach to more children, partner sites, and more BOOKS!
It’s the book fair on wheels that gives kids that new book feeling! It’s thousands of children’s books heading directly to kids. Our Bus Program provides kids with an exciting opportunity to have a unique and magical experience to board the Bus and select a book or two that reflect their unique identities. Books that they can keep forever to enjoy, read, and grow their own home library. The impact of the Bus on literacy and our community is twofold; providing high-quality books to kids in their settings, and the excitement of the Bus experience, which engages kids and makes them proud of their new books.
Beep Beep!
The Bus Program helps us reach thousands of children, families, and educators. Our partners schedule the book Bus for their community and school events, parties, and programming. Since 2019, we've seen just how efficient the Bus is in moving thousands of books, while also allowing us to engage with the community in their neighborhood, school, community center or event. Prior to having our first Bus we had to rely on using employee vehicles, folding tables, and hauling boxes of books with a book dolly, while hoping for decent weather, or a clear path to move the boxes of books to the site where the host is waiting.
Our MRP team curates the book selection to the day’s bus schedule to ensure reader delight and shopper satisfaction. Age, genre, prior requests, languages, and how many kids we will be meeting are all taken into consideration. When the bus pulls up at the event; from the outside graphics to the interior space, kids know this is a special space designed for them. Children often do not have much say in the books they read, so the Bus experience - where they get to make their own choices - is very exciting for them. Kids take pride in selecting their own books, are more likely to read them, and are excited to take them home to share with friends and family... all while building their own home library.
BOOKS WERE GIVEN TO KIDS IN 2022, AN ALL TIME RECORD FOR MRP
110,730
THE BIG RED READING BUS HELPED US REACH
75K
KIDS IN 2022
THE BIG RED READING BUS SERVED
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN 2022
215
Why a second Bus?
Everyone who approaches the Bus should feel welcome, so accessibility is at the top of our list. The new Bus will have a lift gate and large glass door with steps lowered to the ground and handrail for safe access by all. The aisle of the Bus will be broader and longer, allowing anyone to shop for books.
Knowledge. Understanding. Equipment.
Using what we know about the first Bus, we looked at a new design on a larger chassis that will expand capacity for holding triple the amount of books; a bigger Bus also means we can travel farther out with fewer return trips to the MRP Center for restocking. Adding a comprehensive climate-control system will allow us to extend our scheduled Bus Program to serve our community year-round, rain, snow, or shine! An awning mounted on the outside of the Bus will provide cover from the elements, so kids and team members can comfortably take part in fun activities in the shade.
MRP Bus Program in 2024
We will continue to run our first Bus, assigning it to serve more centrally-located sites, smaller group events, and deliveries. The second Bus will be at many programming sites, Bus events, and public locations, helping ignite a love for reading and growing book ownership.
BECOME A BUS SPONSOR
If you'd like to join other literacy champions like Madison Community Foundation and American Girl in supporting the expansion of our bus program, we have a number of sponsorship levels. Please do reach out to us at rowan@madisonreadingproject.com with your questions!
PLATINUM LEVEL
$50,000
GOLD LEVEL
$25,000-$50,000
SILVER LEVEL
$10,000-$25,000
BRONZE LEVEL
Up to $10,000
THE BUS IN ACTION
Thank you for your contribution to Bayview’s community picnic! The book selection you brought was so diverse and thoughtfully curated and I think the children really enjoyed being able to choose their own books. I am excited to use the books you left over for us in After School or to distribute to families in the neighborhood.
– Lisa King, Bayview Foundation
