Got this message from a reader from down Samaria way:
From: Gary and Sally Heidebrecht
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:13 PM
To: Warthen, Brad
Subject: Kids and readingMr. Warthen,
I just read today’s editorial re poor kids and reading.
I have a different idea on this subject.
Next year I will be President of the local (Orangeburg) Kiwanis club. I want a project which might make a difference for poor kids.
My idea is to buy 8-9 books appropriate to 4th graders and give them to the kids, one per month. These would be inexpensive but hardback books. The books would belong to the kids and there would be no tests or pressure to read them. Hopefully a few would read them. I think it is important that the books actually belong to the kids, not to be returned.
I think a big problem is that there are no books, newspapers, magazines or anything else to read in so many of these homes. They need some resources.
Melvin Smoak (Superintendent of Orangeburg Distrct 5) has given me the go ahead for a pilot project ay Rivelon Elementary. There will be 50 kids in the 4th grade next year at that school, most of them from poor families.
I don’t have a cost yet but Ellen Shuler (Executive Director of the South Carolina Center for Children’s Books and Literacy) is developing a list of books and getting costs. We expect the cost to be about $150 per child or about $7500.
Our club will make a contribution but we don’t have anywhere near that amount of money. My purpose in writing you is to ask if you might have any ideas about where I might apply for a grant to try this out?
Boy, if this had a positive impact the $150 per child would sure look good compared to other alternatives.
My sister is 14 years older than I and when she went to work she bought me two series of books when I was about 8-10 years old. I believe ownership of those books turned me into a lifelong prolific reader.
Thank you for your attention.Regards,
Gary Heidebrecht
Orangeburg
To which I replied that I would pass the word around to various folks who might be able to scrape up some funds. Maybe y’all can help in that. Anyone want to pitch in, or know someone who would?
Related Posts
It sounds like a great idea. I would be willing to donate money.
My only comment is that giving kids hardcover books is significantly more expensive. The number of books that will probably end up unread or tossed aside will probably be pretty high. Maybe an idea would be to give the kids 8 paperback books and then at the end of the year, allow them to choose a hardcover version of their favorite?
Oh, and why not set up a paypal account to collect donations? Very easy to set up and very easy track donations.