Grossmont Center hosting candy distribution and book fair

San Diego Oasis, in partnership with Grossmont Center’s Barnes & Noble is hosting its “Very Spooky Book Fair” from Oct. 28 through 31. In addition, San Diego Oasis will participate at “Trick or Treat at Grossmont Center” on Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m., where senior volunteers with San Diego Oasis’ Intergenerational Tutoring Program will be dressed in their Halloween costumes to hand out candy and new books to neighborhood children and their families while supplies last.

During the Book Fair, a portion of in-person or online purchased with fund books for an upcoming book away where Oasis’ Intergenerational Tutoring Program volunteers will provide Title 1 students with books.

National Assessment of Education Progress’s preliminary report in September revealed 61% of America’s low-income students are growing up in homes without books, and students are experiencing the largest decline in the 50 years that national testing has been in place. It also showed that reading scores dropped six points for 9-year-olds across the board.

To fill this gap, San Diego Oasis’ International Tutoring program has given away nearly 50,000 books to low-income children since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Grossmont Center’s “Trick-or-Treat at Grossmont Center” annual community event invites families to get their costumes on and trick-or-treat throughout the shopping mall, visiting several of the different shops and stores to get candy, play games and activities, and more. Advance registration for this free event is encouraged. More information can be found at grossmontcenter.com.

For more information visit sandiegooasis.org.