Get Involved

What you can do to support our mission

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Hands Across the Sea is a 501(c)(3) non-governmental not-for-profit based in the USA and working internationally to help bridge the gap in childhood literacy. Since our founding in 2007, Hands has reached nearly 197,000 children with transformative literacy programs and resources they would otherwise not have access to. Hands libraries nurture community and help foster joy and imagination for tens of thousands of children each year.

Hands Across the Sea has placed more than half-a-million new books in 883 schools and 55 community libraries. Consider however that this number amounts on average to just three books per child. Studies have shown that a steady stream of new, age-appropriate books nearly triple interest in reading within months. Your support keeps the flow of great new books into the hands of children eager to read.

Together, we can help close the literacy gap.

Ways to give:

 

Leadership Giving

Since our founding, Hands Across the Sea has maintained a community of generous donors who are as passionate as we are about children’s literacy. Leadership gifts of $10,000 or more goes incredibly far in a grassroots organization. We are a lean nonprofit with an average of 80% of our resources going to program support. It costs Hands Across the Sea just under $30/year to ensure one child receives books and literacy initiatives. If you are interested in supporting the capacity and longevity of our work and keeping transformative literacy programs active and flourishing, please reach out to Amanda Sherlip, Executive Director at amanda@handsacrossthesea.org or 631-806-4116.

Matching Gifts

If your employer has employee matching gift programs, your donation can have twice the impact. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, Hands is eligible for gift matches from many companies -especially those focused on education, youth, and equity.

Each company has its own guidelines. Most corporate procedures are simple:

  1. Request a matching form from your company or apply online via your company portal.
  2. Complete and submit the form to Hands Across the Sea along with your donation receipt.
  3. Hands Across the Sea will verify the completed form and return it to the company.
  4. The company issues a matching gift contribution to Hands Across the Sea.

Completed gift matching forms can be mailed to:

Hands Across the Sea
Attn: Amanda Sherlip
PO Box 55071, PMB 85043
Boston, MA 02205

Create a Legacy

A gift in your will

Whether you designate a specific amount or leave a percentage of your estate, your legacy gift will empower Hands Across the Sea’s continued work.

Non-cash assets

Donating certain non-cash assets like real estate can provide significant tax benefits while ensuring literacy programs remain sustainable for years to come.

Beneficiary designations

Your retirement plans, life insurance policies, and annuities can all help deliver books and literacy programs to children eager to read.

Qualified charitable distributions

If you are 70½ or older, you can give up to $100,000 per year from your IRA without any income tax implications.

Volunteer

U.S. Peace Corps

Since 2007, we’ve worked with over 100 U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and educators to raise reading levels of children and create or rejuvenate a lending library. With the Peace Corps’ renewed focus on improving child literacy and assisting students and teachers in Grades K to 3, we expect our partnership with them in the Eastern Caribbean to benefit even more children.

On-Island

We’ve enjoyed the hands-on help of many folks looking to go beyond the tourist experience and get their hands dirty—painting, building bookshelves, culling a library collection—or working directly with children (reading aloud) or educators (mentoring, listening, developing an ongoing relationship). Are you in the Eastern Caribbean during the winter months and ready to dig into some meaningful work? Contact us.

Stateside

Most of our stateside work involves sorting and packing boxes with new books. Can you drive to East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and work half a day with us in the Harte-Hanks warehouse this summer? You will sort and pack some truly great children’s books, and you’ll know who they are going to. Interested? Contact us.

We couldn’t do it without our Partners! Are you interested in becoming a Logistical, Charitable or Publishing Partner?

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