Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) will host its annual children’s book drive to benefit Books Are Wings, offering Rhode Islanders both drop-off and virtual donation options as ways to support the effort. The drive will run the entire month of March, with all 20 of the bank’s branch locations participating.

This is the 11th year BankRI has partnered with the local nonprofit whose unique programs put free books in the hands of thousands of children. For 2021, all of the children’s books collected through the Bank’s drive will go to the organization’s Book Bag Project to help support distance learning.

“Books Are Wings counts on every book our drive collects, perhaps now more than ever,” said Patricia O’Donnell-Saracino, vice president of community relations for BankRI. “We want to encourage the community to participate in whatever way they feel is most safe.”

Every BankRI branch will have a contactless collection bin in its foyer or in front of its entrance doors to accept donations of new and gently used children’s books. Those who want to contribute also may participate virtually by purchasing a book from an online Wish List of titles curated by Books Are Wings. The Wish List can be accessed at BooksAreWings.org/donate-books.

When the pandemic hit, Books Are Wings created the Book Bag Project to ensure children could still access books when school buildings and libraries were closed. The project remains a major focus, with the organization safely bagging and labeling the books, then distributing them to children and families through school partnerships and meal sites.

For a list of BankRI branches, their addresses and hours of operation, visit www.bankri.com/locations