Established in 2014, Spirit of the Sol Inc NFP is a community-based organization whose mission is to prepare students to become agents of positive change with a focus on reading literacy. We serve a rural community in one of the poorest areas in Kankakee County, IL. Pembroke Township is described as poor or disadvantaged and suffer limited social infrastructure such as good roads, sound public schools, good housing, sanitation, area security, standard health clinics or youth centers. The poverty rate for students 18 years of age and under is 39% with 98% of school age students qualifying for free lunches. Other community issues include unemployment, low graduation rates and low household income. Spirit of the Sol is 100% donor driven, and all funding is invested into the organization's current mentoring and literacy programs.

Studies show that raising a child in a home filled with books positively impacts their future academic growth and job attainment. Being surrounded by books in the home helps a student to build vocabulary, increase awareness and comprehension, and expand horizons all benefiting them in adulthood. 

After a two year absence, we will once again hold our Summer Solstice Book Fair, a free event, that gives K-12 grade students in attendance an opportunity to select a free book and receive a tote bag. This community event, which services over 80+ students, will be held in the Summer of 2022 in conjunction with the local public library.