Class of 1982
45th Reunion · Reunions Literacy Day · Our Kids Read
Princeton Class of 1982
This Reunions, join the Class of 1982 to inspire a lifelong love of reading for elementary school students from Trenton.
Book Bag Stuffing
Thursday · 3:00–5:00 PM
Class of 1982 Main Service Project & Alumni Options
The Princeton Class of 1982 is uniting behind childhood literacy for our 45th Reunion. Below is our main class service project, details for alumni arriving earlier in the day, and two clear options: volunteering your time or donating to support event costs.
Class of 1982 Service Project: Book Bag Stuffing
The Class of ’82 specifically requested a dedicated, focused afternoon class service project, separate from the morning Literacy Day activities. Join classmates from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM for our dedicated hands-on Book Bag Stuffing project!
Thursday, May 20, 2027 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Princeton Campus · Class of 1982 Reunions Tent / Headquarters
Project Highlights
Together, the Class of 1982 will assemble and pack backpacks with 1,000+ brand-new books and personalized letters for 100 elementary school students from Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School in Trenton.
Additional Morning Literacy Day Activities
While our dedicated Class of 1982 service project takes place from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, alumni who arrive on campus earlier in the day can participate in additional morning Literacy Day activities with the Trenton elementary school students:
Two Distinct Options for Alumni
Someone visiting this page should immediately understand: Option 1 = volunteer for the event. Option 2 = donate to support the event and its costs.
Option 1: Volunteer
Signing up means volunteering to participate in the event. Whether you are joining us for the 3:00–5:00 PM Book Bag Stuffing or participating in the earlier morning shifts, your in-person help powers the entire day.
- Write inspirational notes on bookmarks and greeting cards to encourage young readers and celebrate their achievements.
- Stuff books into book bags alongside classmates so every Trenton student receives 10 brand-new books to keep.
- Address envelopes that will be sent to the children with their personalized messages and literacy materials.
Opens the Class of ’82 JotForm to select your volunteer participation.
Option 2: Donate
Alumni can donate to help cover the tangible costs of the event. If you cannot attend in person or wish to financially sponsor the project, your tax-deductible gift ensures we can purchase and deliver all required supplies.
- Books: Purchasing 1,000 brand-new, high-interest books for 100 students.
- Book bags: Heavy-duty backpacks for children to keep and carry their books home.
- Postage: Mailing follow-up materials, book packages, and letters to children.
- Printing the greeting cards: Inspiring custom cards & bookmarks.
- Envelopes: Envelopes for student notes and personalized presentation packs.
Tax-deductible gift to Our Kids Read · Federal Tax ID (EIN): 83-3401365
Sponsor Supplies for Literacy Day
Have a connection at Nike, Adidas, or another company that could donate or discount product? We need backpacks, notebooks, pens, and t‑shirts for all 100 students coming to campus for Literacy Day.
Write a Letter to a Student
Sending an encouraging, handwritten note to an intermediate school student in Trenton is one of the most beloved parts of Literacy Day. Letters and bookmarks are tucked directly into the children's backpacks.
Stop by the Class of 1982 Reunions tent anytime during the morning and afternoon to write your note on greeting cards and bookmarks provided on site.
Can't make it in person? You can write and submit your encouraging letter online:
Submit a Student Letter Online →About Our Kids Read
Our Kids Read (OKR) puts the power of story into children's hands so they can write their own futures. OKR is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) with three core programs:
A physical Literacy Hub in Baltimore, where children receive ten free books with every visit and can register for the one-on-one Reading Buddies program.
Large-scale distribution — more than 100,000 books per year — to hospitals, schools, United Way organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other community partners.
A one-on-one, literacy-focused mentorship program pairing children in Title I schools with trained mentors for weekly reading sessions that build a lasting love of reading.
What this funds
"Once you're in the program, it's almost like family. The communication with the emails, with the phone calls, I just think it's very friendly, and it's very simple…. the timing is so flexible, and you have options. Most programs, you don't get this much flexibility or this many options, even including the readathons, which my daughter loves."
"I would love for [my reading buddy student], as the oldest sibling of four, I would love for him to then be able to take that, what he learns, and provide that reading confidence to his younger siblings. Like, that would be such a cool moment, just in general. I was thinking a lot about that as I've read with him. I want him to be a confident reader. I want him to be a lifelong reader."
"People just want you to show up. And they just want to know that you care, right? And I think especially implanting that into, you know, with having that conversation with a child. [My reading buddy student] knows that I'm going to consistently, at 5 p.m. Friday at 5pm, there's a lot of places where most people would rather be. That's where I am, right? Because that's what works with his schedule. But he knows that I'm gonna be consistent. I'm not gonna flake out. And I think that's important. It's important to show to a child that when the adults in the room say something, that they mean it, and they do it."