Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
Community leaders and volunteers will join Black Press, Nelson and District Credit Union (East Shore Branch) and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and to raise funds for this year’s Reach a Reader campaign in Creston. This year’s campaign theme is Books for Kids.
The 7th annual campaign is taking the action to the streets on October 5. Volunteers will be “selling” a special edition of the Creston Valley Advance by donation. Throughout Books for Kids campaign, piggy banks will be available at local businesses and community-based literacy programs.
“Books are the window to a bigger world and by giving a child a book we can help encourage a lifetime love of reading,” says Community Literacy Coordinator, Gillian Wells. “A child who loves to read becomes an adult who loves to learn. Every little bit makes a difference – small change can create big changes!”
In Creston, funds raised will help support CBAL to purchase quality books for families and their children attending family literacy programs throughout the year. Books will also be distributed through a variety of events such as Winterfest and Baby Picnic and to help stock the new “little library” at Yaqan Nukiy School.
Early literacy skills are essential in helping children learn how to read and having access to quality books helps to foster these skills. Struggling readers experience numerous barriers as they continue throughout their school years and this impacts not only their learning, but their confidence and self-esteem.
You can support the Books for Kids campaign by making a donation for a paper today at the Canyon St. walkthrough and Overwaitea Foods between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or by dropping some change into one of the piggy banks you will see around town throughout October. You may also donate online at cbal.org. Take the opportunity to help reach a reader and donate today!
To learn more about community-based literacy programs in Creston contact Gillian Wells, Community Literacy Coordinator at gwells@cbal.org or go to cbal.org.