It is practically impossible to grow up in Tompkins County without interacting with Family Reading Partnership.

Since 1997, the organization has been working to help children develop strong language skills and a love of reading before starting school. The nonprofit wants to build a culture of literacy in Tompkins County and spread joy for reading in every neighborhood.

FRP’s Bright Red Bookshelves offer free children’s books in more than 50 locations across Tompkins County, including grocery stores, community centers, schools and food pantries. Through FRP’s Books to Grow On program, every child receives a free book during their well-child visits and their first day of kindergarten. The nonprofit brings books into community spaces through its story walks and traveling books programs, and provides free play bins with books and toys for families with limited resources through Talk, Sing, Read, Play with Me.

Executive director Amber Smith said FRP partners with many community organizations and agencies to distribute reading materials and advertise its resources in every corner of Tompkins County.

“It really is a community effort,” Smith said. “We’re here for all families, and we want people to come and take advantage of this.”

The nonprofit has given more than 350,000 books to more than 250,000 children over the last 30 years. FRP now hopes that some of the families it has impacted will return the support.

FRP launched a $100,000 fundraising campaign Feb. 3 to stabilize finances and replace its storefront’s heating and cooling system. If the organization does not raise enough funds by May 31, it will likely have to move to a much smaller space and reduce programming and staff.

Resources and programming 

FRP operates out of a storefront in the Shops at Ithaca Mall. Its space includes an office and a free family play area called The Nook.

Smith said the mall location makes it easier for families to access — or accidentally discover — their resources. FRP intentionally markets The Nook as a play space instead of a library.

“We want all families to feel comfortable here, whether they’re readers or not readers,” Smith said. “If we can get folks to come in because they see a free play space, then we can also find little ways to help encourage reading in their home lives.”

Ellie Fulmer, associate professor of education at Ithaca College, said many teachers are told to use highly scripted reading programs and screen-based instruction, and therefore stop using real books or read-alouds in their classrooms. However, books can help children better process text and realize reading’s power to transport them to exciting new places.

Fulmer said FRP can help children develop a positive relationship with reading by building literacy into many community spaces and removing barriers to accessing books, like the need for a library card.

“If we’re not getting physical books into the hands of kids, then … we’re just shaping them into people that see reading as school related things, things they have to get through and get done with,” Fulmer said. “[FRP can] augment what a lot of really good teachers are still making sure happens in their classrooms … by making sure that kids have access to books outside of their classroom too.”

Funding challenges

FRP is primarily supported by individual donors. Smith said FRP has an aging donor base and has struggled to find new donors at the same rate that it is losing them. Smith said it has also been harder for FRP to secure grant funding as grant applications become more competitive because it does not serve an immediate need like food or shelter.

Smith said FRP is constantly working to find new revenue pathways, but has had to use most of its reserves over the last few years and now needs to replace its storefront’s heating and cooling system.

Smith said that if FRP cannot meet its $100,000 funding goal by May 31, it will likely have to move to a space about half the size of the mall location and without a dedicated play space. FRP would have to scale back to its core programming and lay off two part-time staff members.

Kellie Hummel, a physical therapist and Early Intervention and Evaluations team leader for Racker, said she hosts physical therapy visits with children with mobility needs in The Nook. Hummel said The Nook is one of very few places in Tompkins County where families — including those with mobility needs — can connect with their children and other families in all seasons, for free.

Hummel said it would be an enormous loss for the community if FRP has to close The Nook or reduce programming.

“I have trouble putting it in words,” Hummel said. “As a parent, it has provided just wonderful opportunities to engage in early literacy with my own child and a love of books and storytelling and connection, and then I’ve been able to see families and the children I work with have that same experience.”

Smith said she hopes the fundraising campaign will help families who have benefited from FRP’s services recognize that the nonprofit is in trouble.

“Our hope was really to just get a lot more eyes on the situation, and therefore hopefully bring in some donations from folks who said, ‘Oh, we had such wonderful memories of receiving books at the doctor’s office and we want to make sure that that continues,’” Smith said. “This [campaign] is the way to make sure that that continues.”