The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department has partnered with the Support for the Kids and Book Ends organizations to collaborate and do what we can to encourage youth literacy and thus prevent crime.

What role does literacy play in fighting crime? Sadly, someone who does not possess literacy skills is just not able to function with the most basic things that we take for granted, such as applying for jobs, using a computer, reading blueprints or a mechanic shop manual.

Youth who fall into this literacy gap become naturally attracted to gangs and subsequently crime and incarceration. Our Sheriff’s Piru Literacy project fights crime, makes great citizens and distributes 1800 books per year to kindergarten through sixth grade students in Piru.

We rely on our partnership with “Book Ends” and “Support For The Kids” to supply our Sheriff’s Department with an annual starting base of 1000 books.

We need your help. This is our 3rd year and we need 800 more new or used books to accomplish our goal of outfitting every Piru child with a minimum of two quality books before the holidays. We are asking you to drop age-appropriate books off at the Fillmore Police Station, 524 Sespe Ave, Fillmore (Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm).

We can even arrange for a book pick-up at your house or organization. You can help us fight crime, educate our youth and even unite your neighborhood or community group with a used book drive.

Please help us, help the children.

Need more information? Call 805-524-2235 or email us at tim.hagel@ventura.org or jane.david@ventura.org