First Book is a national nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. First Book distributes books through its network of volunteer-member Advisory Boards. The primary goal of First Book is to work with existing community literacy programs to distribute new books to children who, for economic reasons, have little or no access to books.

UWGMC works with the local Mercer County Advisory Board to support community-based programs and organizations like preschool, day care, after-school, and tutoring/mentoring programs. First Book typically supports after-school programs rather than providing books to be used in the classroom. The number of books provided to approved applicants is determined by the request outlined in the application, the funds and books available to the Advisory Board, and the number of applications received by the Advisory Board. To find out more information, please contact Merlene Taylor at 609.637.4919 or email .