Community partners join forces to fight summer learning loss in Box Elder and Cache Counties

BOX ELDER and CACHE COUNTIES - More than 5,000 books found their way into the hands of local children this summer, due to a collaborative community effort led by United Way of Northern Utah. The effort was to combat summer learning loss and expand access to reading.

United Way of Northern Utah and 18 community partners distributed 5,183 books during the free summer lunch programs to nine different schools in Box Elder and Cache Counties. The initiative took 270 volunteer hours to make it happen.

The free book program was designed to address the “summer slide” —the loss of academic skills that can occur when students are out of school—as well as the lack of library card access in some rural and underserved areas.

Oxford Learning studies showed summer reading helps children m