InspireLit

Our mission is to inspire a love of reading &
promote literacy by increasing access to engaging books. 

We are teachers, reading specialists, and community members using our backgrounds and expertise in children's literature and reading instruction to create a brighter future for underserved children in Alexandria.

Our vision is to create a community where all children have equitable access to books and experience the joy of reading. This year, when considering which charities to support, we kindly ask that you consider giving to InspireLit. A few dollars have the potential to open up new worlds. It’s an investment that is invaluable.

We believe every child in our city deserves bedtime stories! Since 2016, we have shared more than 126,000 books for children and families to take home and read together. Books in the home provide bonding experiences for families and are linked stronger academic outcomes and cognitive development!

This year, we have expanded our reach by partnering with more schools, organizations, and providers in our community to share books where children and families learn, play, and access essential services, including food and medical care.

We want every child we serve to have access to books they love and experience the joy of literacy. And that’s where you come in. With your help, we can continue to expand our reach and provide even more children with great books for their homes and classrooms. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will go a long way.

Here are just a few examples of what your donation will help us accomplish:

• $25 can provide five children with new books to add to their home libraries and increase their likelihood of future academic success


• $50 will help refill a sharing shelf with engaging books for children and families to choose from to read together


• $100 will provide 25 bilingual board books in Amharic, Arabic, Dari, and Spanish for parents to read to children in their first language


• $500 will establish a new sharing shelf for kindergartners in a Title 1 school, providing them with books they can take home and read with their families


• $1,000 will sponsor a book table at a community partner event where children and families can choose from a wide selection of curated books they can make their own

Our Partners

ACPS Healthy Start

ACPS Summer School

Alexandria Early Childhood Center at John Adams

Alexandria Literacy Initiative

Alexandria PTAC

Alexandria Department of Health & Human Services

Alexandria Soccer Association

ALIVE West End Food Hub

Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Carpenter's Shelter

Center for Alexandria's Children

ChildFind and Early Childhood Special Education Services

Communities in Schools

Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria

Cora Kelly School for Math, Science & Technology

Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue

George Washington Middle School

Francis C. Hammond Middle School

John Adams Elementary School

Kids' First Years

Minnie Howard Early Childhood Center

Mother of Light Center

Neighborhood Health

WIC Clinic

William Ramsay Recreation Center

Volunteer Alexandria