Jamaica Event Will Give Away 40,000 Books To Teachers, Parents

JAMAICA, QUEENS — The United Federation of Teachers and the non-profit First Book are giving away 40,000 books to parents and teachers in Jamaica this weekend.

The Saturday morning book drive at P.S. 160Q will offer books for kids of all ages. Teachers will be eligible to take 50 books each, and parents can take home up to 20 books.

The United Federation of Teachers, a labor union for public school teachers, has given out more than 680,000 books through these distribution events, a spokeswoman said.

"In our current technological age, too many of our young people are busy on their smartphones, playing video games or watching television; they need to acquaint themselves with the written word," State Sen. James Sanders Jr., who is co-sponsoring the book drive, said in a statement.

"I am an avid reader, myself, and it was a habit that I began in my youth," he added.

Books will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at P.S. 160 Walter Francis Bishop at 109-59 Inwood St. on Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is limited on-site registration. For more information click here.