2025-06-24T00:13:25-04:00 2024-12-31 990EZ 2024-01-01 562380561 Books Are Gems % Emma Acosta BOOK 9158455437 7744 N LOOP DR STE B EL PASO TX 79915 Emma Acosta Executive Director 2025-06-25 false 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X https: www.booksaregems.org X X 156507 X 148479 8028 8028 0 0 0 156507 26864 4000 5790 1991 52673 91318 65189 139121 -41402 162908 X 139121 178588 139121 178588 0 15680 139121 162908 Books Are Gems GEMS established in 2003 is a nonprofit bookstore with a 501c3 status devoted to fostering a love for reading among children and strengthening families through the power of literacy. Situated in El Paso Texas our impact extends across El Paso County Southern New Mexico and the Ft. Bliss communities. Our overarching vision centers on placing a book into the hands of every child effecting transformative change one book at a time. Our objective revolves around enhancing accessibility to books for all families thereby advancing literacy language proficiency and comprehension skills in both children and their caregivers. The context in which we operate is critical: El Pasos youth confront an illiteracy rate of around 18% and nearly a quarter of households lack access to Wi-Fi. Additionally the poverty rate for children in this region stands at 26% and the absence of public libraries in rural areas compounds the challenge. 1. Free Book Distribution Program Books Are Gems provides free new and gently used books to children and educators in the El Paso region. In 2024 over 24,000 children and 820 teachers benefited from this program. Children visiting the bookstore were able to choose up to eight books of their own increasing their interest in reading and supporting literacy development at home. Educators received free classroom resources to enhance their students learning experience. The program targets underserved families in a border community with high poverty and low literacy rates. 65000 65000 2. Saturday Storytime and Family Literacy Program Our weekly Saturday Storytime sessions held in-person and streamed live on Facebook reached more than 3,000 children and families in 2024. Each session includes a read-aloud experience arts and crafts tied to the books theme and free take-home books. This bilingual program encourages early literacy promotes family reading and supports non-English-speaking parents who use storytime to improve their English skills while bonding with their children. 12000 12000 3. Teacher and Community Partnership Outreach Books Are Gems collaborates with schools community organizations and childcare centers to host literacy events and deliver bulk book donations. In 2024 we distributed over 45,000 books to schools daycares and nonprofits across the El Paso region. We also hosted pop-up literacy events and participated in community fairs ensuring equitable access to books in underserved neighborhoods. This program helps create a culture of reading and supports educators in closing the literacy gap among at-risk youth. 3000 3000 80000 Louie Gonzalez President 10 0 0 0 Tomas Porras Acosta Vice President 10 0 0 0 Sofia Vega Secretary 10 0 0 0 Alexis Gonzalez Treasurer 10 0 0 0 Lizeth Arredondo Director 5 0 0 0 Ivan Chavarria Director 10 0 0 0 Paula Madrilles Founder & Board Director Emeritus 2 0 0 0 Emma Acosta Executive Director 25 10843 0 0 Susan Patterson Bookstore Manager 25 11746 0 0 false false false false false false false false false Books are Gems 7744 N LOOP DR STE B El Paso TX 799152907 9158455437 false false false false false false false false false false false NONE NONE true X 72271 96277 50000 75723 148479 442750 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72271 96277 50000 75723 148479 442750 94096 348654 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 442750 0 0.7875 0.33 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED Part I, line 16 | Other Expenses:, Amount:| 6020 - Amazon Sales Tax, $52.00| 6600 - Continuing Ed. Meetings Workshops, $250.00| 6210 - Grant Expense, $4081.00| 6300 - Board Staff Volunteer Expense, $3046.88| 6530 - Volunteer Mentorship Program, $1407.30| 6900 - Miscellanous Expenses, $14516.69| 6321 - Office Supplies and Expense, $1805.52| 6310 - Office Equipment Hardware & Software, $106.02| 6030 - Bank and Credit Card Fees, $447.81| 6601 - Greater El Paso Chamber Membership Fee, $0.00| 6525 - Summer Reading Program, $0.00| 6360 - Transportation, $0.00| 6355 - El Paso Disposal, $413.32| 6350 - Telephone Telecommunications, $2376.84| 6340 - Postage Mailing Services, $0.00| 6330 - Online Services, $3936.88| 6323 - On Line Job Ads., $0.00| 6322 - Amazon Labels, $0.00| 6120 - Insurance - Property Directors & Officers, $250.00| 6110 - Maintenance and Repairs, $0.00| 6100 - Janitorial Services and Supplies, $0.00| 6000 - Accounting, $169.20| 6521 - USPS, $0.00| 6520 - Storytime, $0.00| 6510 - New Book Purchases, $10102.36| 6490 - Payroll Overtime, $0.00| 6450 - Payroll - Taxes, $4275.94| 6403 - Amazon Specialist, $0.00| 6402 - Payroll Executive Director, $0.00| 6400 - Payroll - Bookstore Manager, $0.00| 6010 - Advertising, $0.00| Insurance, $0.00| Job Supplies & Materials, $84.55| Meals & Entertainment, $21.30| Misc. Expense, $4647.85| Office Supplies, $259.96| Payroll Expense, $136.82| Professional Fees, $168.42| Rent, $0.00| Repairs & Maintenance, $0.00| Telephone, $0.00| Travel, $0.00| Utilities, $115.88| Vehicle Fuel & Repairs, $0.00| Part I, line 20 | Description:, Explanation:, Amount:| Credit Memo Liability, Credit Memo Liability, $-41402| Part II, line 26 | Liabilities Name:, BOY Amount:, EOY Amount:| Credit Liability, 0, $15680|