Community partnerships dedicated to ensuring literacy and reading resources are accessible to all Chatham students.
The goal of Chatham Reads is to foster community partnerships that are dedicated to ensuring that literacy and reading resources are accessible to all Chatham County residents.
A joint program of Chatham Education Foundation an Chatham County Schools, Chatham Reads is a collective of community agencies working together to meet the literacy needs of Chatham kids. We meet often to evaluate needs and partner on solutions. Our largest program, Books on Break, provides brand new, high-interest books directly to pre-school and elementary students in our Title 1 and rural elementary schools before summer break, to combat summer learning loss. We also collect new and gently-used children’s book donations and redistribute them to children in need.
The Collective
Chatham Reads is more than a program — it's a collective of community agencies working together to meet the literacy needs of Chatham County children. Member organizations meet regularly to evaluate needs, share resources, and partner on solutions. Together, we reach kids through schools, food pantries, health departments, neighborhood events, and more.
Our partners share a common goal: ensuring every child in Chatham County reads proficiently by the end of third grade — the critical milestone when children shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Chatham Reads is a proud partner of the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in this work.
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina — centralcarolinabgc.org
Chatham County Partnership for Children — chathamkids.org
Chatham County Parks & Recreation — chathamcountync.gov/parks-rec
Chatham County Schools — chatham.k12.nc.us
Chatham County Public Libraries — chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/library
Chatham Education Foundation — chathameducationfoundation.org
Chatham Literacy — chathamliteracy.org/
Communities In Schools of Chatham County — cischatham.org
CORA Food Pantry — corafoodpantry.org
The Learning Trail — thelearningtrail.org
Town of Siler City — silercity.org
YMCA Chatham Park - ymcatriangle.org/locations/chatham-park-ymca
Volunteer
Whether you have a few hours a month or want to show up regularly, there's a place for you in Chatham Reads. Volunteers sort and organize book donations, restock Little Libraries and food pantry bookshelves, help students pick out books at our Books on Break fairs, support school libraries, and read aloud to students. Visit our Volunteering page to see all current opportunities and sign up.
Donate Books
All year long, we accept new and gently used children's books — from board books for babies to titles for high schoolers, with a special emphasis on elementary-age readers. Donated books are sorted by volunteers and thoughtfully redistributed for free to children across Chatham County through community events, food pantries, health departments, schools, and partner organizations. Research shows that having a variety of books at home is one of the most powerful supports for long-term reading success.
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501 Pharmacy — 69 Knox Wy Suite 110, Chapel Hill
Avance Primary Care, Briar Chapel — 98 Chapelton Ct, Suite 310, Chapel Hill
Chatham Park YMCA — 120 Parkland Dr, Pittsboro
Chatham Pediatric Dentistry, Briar Chapel — 79 Falling Springs Dr #120, Chapel Hill
Main St. Station, Pittsboro — 287 East St, Pittsboro
McIntyre's Books, Fearrington Village — 220 Market St, Pittsboro
Subway, Southern Village — 400 Market St Suite 100, Chapel Hill
The Phoenix Bakery, Downtown Pittsboro — 664 West St, Pittsboro
Van2 Auto Sales, Siler City — 736 N Second Ave, Siler City
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You can purchase books directly from our wishlist at McIntyre's Books — use code DONATE for 20% off, and purchases will be held at the store for Chatham Reads.
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Complete this form to request books.
For large donations, questions, or to request a book box at your location, contact Heather Bochicco at heather@cefmail.org.
Little Libraries
Our Little Libraries bring free books directly into neighborhoods across Chatham County, so kids and families can pick up a great read close to home — no library card or transportation required. Community volunteers steward each location, keeping shelves stocked, tidy, and welcoming year-round. We provide the books; stewards provide the love.
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Northeast District Park 5408 Big Woods Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Northwest District Park 2413 Woody Store Road, Siler City, NC 27344
Southwest District Park 15124 NC-902, Bear Creek, NC 27207
The Nature Trail 326 Nature Trail, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Town Lake Park 529 NC-902, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Bennett School 61 Randolph Street, Bennett, NC 27208
The Garden at El Camino Church 110 Chestnut Street, Siler City, NC 27344
Boling Lane Park 302 South Fir Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344
Virginia Cross Elementary School 234 Cross School Rd, Siler City, NC 27344
Moncure School 600 Moncure School Rd, Moncure, NC 27559
Interested in stewarding a little library?
Chatham Reads Updates!
