BATH – Volunteers of America Northern New England, Scholastic Inc. and Bisson Moving and Storage have teamed up with a variety of community organizations and volunteers to distribute 40,000 free books to children in need across Maine.

Maine’s First Lady Karen M. Baldacci will speak at the official kick-off event at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, at Bisson Moving and Storage, 76 New Meadows Road, West Bath. A supporter of literacy in Maine, she will address the important role that programs like this play in the state.

Clifford “The Big Red Dog” will be present, and there will be refreshments and bookmarks. After the ceremony, community organizations will receive their books for use in future events.

“This program has become very popular and is a wonderful partnership,” said June Koegel, president and CEO of Volunteers of American Northern New England.

The goal of the Scholastic Book Grants Program is to reach children who would otherwise not have access to or be able to afford books on their own. Most of the free books will be distributed between May and June at a number of events. There will be a variety of books for children of different ages and materials for use by teachers and parents may also be available.

For more information, visit Volunteers of America Northern New England’s Web site at www.voa-nne.org.