What is The Story Express?

The Story Express™ program provides hundreds of new children’s books to our classrooms three times during the school year. Each time The Story Express™ visits a school, our CEP Artists and volunteers bring in hundreds of books for the children to choose one of their own from!

In addition to classrooms, The Story Express™ program visits health fairs, food pantries, community events, and Camp Craddock sites, and gives out books to all school-age children. These books are primarily donated to The Center through the generosity of our nationwide network of supporters.

Literacy research shows a correlation between the number of age-appropriate books that a child has at home and the number of years of school that child will complete.

Further, the skills children develop when they handle books are critical to the development of literacy. Simple knowledge, such as how to turn pages, the orientation and direction of print, and relationship between pictures and story, is difficult to learn unless children have experienced holding books.

How You Can Help

Donations
Donations to the Story Express™ are greatly appreciated.  All financial donations are put directly towards the purchase of new books.

Donations of new books are also greatly valued and make wonderful additions.

Vendors
Donations and discounts from book vendors are an important and vital part of the success of the Story Express™. Books ranging from board books to middle grade novels are needed.  Any assistance your company may provide is a tremendous gift to the children involved.

Used Books
The Craddock Center also accepts contributions of gently loved used books.  These books are also distributed and used for programs for those in need.  For this reason, used books need to be clean, undamaged and in appealing condition.

Sending Donations
If you would like to provide financially or give the gift of books to the Story Express™, please send all donations to:

The Craddock Center
PO Box 69
Cherry Log, GA 30522
(706) 632-1772