To paraphrase American children’s fiction writer Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo, reading should be offered to children as a gift.
To paraphrase American children’s fiction writer Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo, reading should be offered to children as a gift.
A gift of enrichment that is sustained over time is the driving force behind the Dixie Sunrise Rotary Club’s Literacy Initiative. The project is placing little free libraries in four different locations to increase access to books for children and families. A launch event and ribbon cutting was held on October 7 at one of the sites, Root for Kids, a nonprofit organization in St. George that provides services for children and families in need of extra support.
The Initiative also kicked off a weekly reading program with third graders from Sunset Elementary School, a Title I school receiving federal funding to serve children living in poverty who are at risk of falling behind academically. Every week, students who need extra help will read to Rotarians who have been trained to support these students and strengthen literacy skills.
Washington County School District Literacy Coordinator Kathy Hall told guests that early literacy proficiency is one of the strongest predictors of success in school, but too many children in the district are missing this important milestone. Other speakers included 9-year-old Madisyn Franzen who attends Rotary meetings with her mom every week, always with a book in hand, and 14-year-old Maddy Hymas who began her own little free library when she was nine and said her love of reading influenced her love of all art, including painting, singing and theatre.
The Literacy Committee is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families. Members include Alicia Maldonado, chair; Glenn Artist, Ayanna Franzen, Dennis Galloway, Marla Shelby-Drabner, Suzanne Leonelli, Sandi Schwartz and Charlotte Shelley.