MISSION

**Books Are GEMS** is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Bookstore & Organization, whose mission is **to Improve Literacy rates in our Region by inspiring children and empowering families by Providing Free Books to children, families and teachers. **. We serve families in El Paso & Ft. Bliss, TX and Southern New Mexico. We Provide “Free Books!” to every Child from Toddler to High School that visits our storefront every week!

VISION

Our vision is to see a book in the hand of every child in our community. By putting a book into the hand of every child in our community, we are changing lives one book at a time. Our goal is to make books accessible to all children and their parents, thereby increasing literacy, fluency and comprehension in both children and their parents. We belive that every child is worthy of owning books!

Every Child that visits the bookstore receives Free “One New Book and Six Gently Used Books!”

Every Teacher that visits the bookstore may obtain **Free 25 new books and unlimited teacher resources **

We believe Teachers should have all the resources to teach without having to use their persoanl funds! Your contribution will help teachers with Free books and Free teacher resources such as charts, flash cards, workbooks, notebooks and other items that students need to learn!

We provide Virtual Story Time every Saturday! The first 50 families that visit the bookstore each week receive additional New Story Books that will be read on Saturday. Children follow along and learn to read & parents with limited English have also said they follow along to learn to read the English language!

Your contirubutions will help children learn to read & become better students & productive adults!

OUR LEGACY

Books Are GEMS is the story of 16-year-old Gracie Elizabeth Madriles (GEM), her mother Paula, and their love of books.

It begins with an ending. The passing of Gracie in a car accident on September 21, 2002. It is the catalyst for the creation of Books Are GEMS - Paula Madriles’ Labor of love.

After Gracie’s death, Paula received food, flowers and monetary donations from family and friends. As a teacher working in South El Paso - she understood the hardships her students faced. And she knew that families and teachers lacked resources for simple pleasures - specifically books.

During her mourning, Paula chose to honor her daughter’s spirit of love and generosity by enriching the lives of others through books. She spent the donations at yard sales and thrift stores, buying books and educational materials to give to teachers and students.

Paula’s devotion and vision inspired many individuals and organizations to support her mission. In 2003, Books Are GEMS became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization - providing free books to children and educational resources to teachers – ensuring that Gracie’s legacy lives on.