Monday, February 4, 2013

Giving the Gift of a Lifelong Love of Reading

As part of the Junior League of Washington's Resolution Read initiative, JLW is once again partnering with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) to put over 13,000 books in the hands of DC children in Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8.  The students at Neval Thomas Elementary are in for a special treat, as the spotlight school for this distribution. February marks Black History Month, and in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the event will feature Kelly Starling Lyons, the author of "Hope's Gift," a story about a family in the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Throughout the month of February, JLW and RIF will distribute 13,000 free books to 6,500 children in twenty District of Columbia Public Schools.

JLW members will be on hand to help distribute books to students, as students will be free to choose two books to take home along with literacy activity worksheets.

During December, JLW members attended distributions across the district, distributing books and participating in fun activities with the students. Members read aloud to students, and in some cases, students even read back to the volunteers? "I had three 5th grade boys request to read their book to me because they thought it was so funny. They each took turns reading the book to me and said it was my turn,"
said Jenny Paxton, member of the JLW of the December distribution at KIPP DC AIM Academy.

The distribution at Neval Thomas Elementary on February 5th is just one of the many distribution and volunteer opportunities for JLW members this month. Additionally, anyone can support Resolution Read by donating online. We look forward to seeing you at a shift!


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