PoWeR! Book Bags empower northern Michigan’s young readers

By Abby Chatfield

Sun contributor

A Suttons Bay-based nonprofit is quietly making a profound impact on the lives of underserved children. This organization, known as PoWeR! Book Bags (PBB), has been dedicated to nurturing literacy and fostering meaningful human interactions in children since its inception in 2016.

The acronym PoWeR! stands for Play, Write, Read, embodying the organization’s mission to elevate children’s language skills and literacy through these vital activities. PBB believes that when children engage in play, writing, and reading, they not only acquire crucial language skills but also build the foundations of a brighter future.

The heart of the nonprofit’s mission is to provide children with a continuous supply of language and literacy materials. Regardless of where they encounter PBB, children are welcomed to pick up a literacy book bag. These bags contain interactive goodies like finger puppets, crayons, writing booklets, and bookmarks, along with age-appropriate books. Whenever possible, children and their families are encouraged to choose books to take home and build their personal libraries. Subsequent visits provide opportunities to collect more books and writing supplies, ensuring a steady stream of educational resources.

In 2017, the Sun featured PBB as a new nonprofit in our region, highlighting their efforts to provide book bags filled with literacy materials to children in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. Fast forward six years and see how astounding PBB’s growth has been. The Sun recently caught up with executive director and founder Kara Gregory to shed light on the organization’s current initiatives.

Since its inception, PBB has distributed nearly 430,000 books and 73,000 PoWeR! Literacy Bags to children. Currently, the organization collaborates with 102 sites across 22 counties in Northern Lower Michigan, with plans to expand to 24 counties soon.

During the summer months, PBB springs into action with literacy pop-ups across the counties they serve. These events are brimming with books, writing materials, and puppets, all designed to engage children and families in reading, writing, and playing together. As Gregory puts it, they aim to make these activities a part of summer fun.

The fall season, on the other hand, marks a busy period for volunteering events. PBB gears up by preparing books, puppets, writing booklets, and packing PoWeR! literacy bags. These materials find their way into the hands of children year-round, but the demand increases with schools back in session. These resources are distributed through various channels, including food and baby pantries, health departments, playgroups, preschools, childcare centers, and schools.

While a mobile library remains a dream, PBB currently transports its materials to various locations on a trailer and in volunteers’ car trunks. They also maintain a permanent blue bookcase at their front office, where gently used books are available for anyone to take. New books are acquired through generous donations and grants.

In light of the challenges children face today, such as increased stress and mental health issues, PBB is more determined than ever to provide materials for children to play, write, and read at home. These activities have been proven to not only enhance language and reading skills but also boost children’s resilience in dealing with stress.

Gregory and her team are continually exploring ways to introduce more play materials into their work. They have a card game in the pipeline for older children and a new bean bag called a “Shooting Star” for the little ones. Additionally, they are working on short video resources to offer demonstrations and suggestions for using their materials effectively. The well of ideas never runs dry; what’s needed is more time, talent, and resources to bring them to fruition.

While PBB is eager to collaborate with all schools throughout Leelanau County, securing funding resources can sometimes pose a challenge. Currently, they work with schools in Northport, Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, and Leland. The organization is also forging partnerships with local libraries, aiming to engage families in these valuable community resources.

PBB and Parenting Communities share a thriving partnership. PoWeR! bags and materials are made available to families at Parenting Communities’ playgroups and community events. Parenting Communities even selected PBB for a grant to support this collaboration.

The story of PBB began when Kara Gregory, the Executive Director and Founder, moved to the Leelanau area and sought ways to become involved in her new community. An epiphany struck her while volunteering at a Salvation Army holiday community meal. She noticed a bin filled with paper scraps intended for children while they waited for their meals. This simple observation ignited the idea of providing an ongoing supply of books to these young hearts and minds.

Gregory’s extensive background in child development and early childhood education, including a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, played a pivotal role in shaping PBB. Her knowledge and experience in these fields laid the foundation for a program meticulously grounded in research.

The organization started by offering bags at various locations, including Leelanau Christian Neighbors, Immaculate Conception Food Pantry, and the Salvation Army in Traverse City. Gregory and her team gradually expanded their offerings to include new books, age-appropriate playing and writing materials, all wrapped up in beautifully handcrafted bags sewn by community volunteers. Every aspect of the program is designed with research-backed precision.

As the nonprofit continues to make a difference in the lives of children across Northern Lower Michigan, one thing remains clear: their commitment to language, literacy, and human interaction through play, writing, and reading is unwavering. With each book bag they distribute, they sow the seeds of knowledge, resilience, and brighter tomorrows.

In the words of Gregory, “Perhaps the most important thing somehow is to help people in Leelanau know our name is PoWeR! Book Bags (not powerbooks or powerbags). Somehow the shortened versions have stuck but then no one can find us!”

PBB is always looking for volunteers to add to an already robust list of helpers. To find out more about how you can help, visit PowerBookBags.org; or Facebook: Power Book Bags; or X, formerly known as Twitter: @powerbookbags.