The Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s $1,315 grant will allow us to fund the Crestview Public Library’s outreach summer-reading program, which serves children who cannot participate in the regular summer reading program.
The grant will help us purchase books that children can keep. It will help us inspire kids with craft projects that relate to what they read, which will aid comprehension. We will also provide a book bag and school supplies for the 25 children who attend at least five sessions.
Our goal is to create a love of reading for these children through stories, songs and crafts. We also want to provide the children with reading skills that they can practice through the summer so they're ready for the new school year.
The six-week program for children 4 to 12 years old runs 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays through July 9 at the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church annex. All children may attend. The church serves free lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The outreach program wouldn’t be possible without the grant.
"Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education,” Rick Dreiling, Dollar General chairman and CEO, said. “Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $81 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 4.7 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.”
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MORE INFORMATION:
See a complete list of grant recipients at www.dgliteracy.org.
Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Grant will aid our summer literacy efforts