Reading the newspaper is easy for some people but very difficult for others.
National Literacy Day (NLD) is being held on Jan. 27, and it encourages families to spend 15 minutes a day reading or practising a literacy activity together.
Various organizations across the country participate every year by hosting literacy-related events to support the literacy cause.
January is too cold to stand on the streets in 100
Mile House, says Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy (CCPL) literary support worker Melody Newcombe, so they have decided to move Reach-a-Reader Day to Sept. 8, which is International Literacy Day.
“Volunteers from 100 Mile House and surrounding communities will be
out selling newspapers, which the Free Press donates. It is a great community event raising awareness about literacy and a wonderful fundraiser for CCPL.”
Last year, CCPL raised more than $6,000 by holding a Chili Cook Off with the South Cariboo Lionesses, having a golf tournament, and selling papers. The group also received many private donations.
Some of that
money has been
used to build and paint more bookshelves for the
Bright Red Bookshelf program and purchasing books, so any child can take a free book, says Newcombe.
The theme for this year’s National Literacy Day is “Play for Literacy!” and Canadians from coast to coast are encouraged to participate together in games and play dates with family, friends and neighbours.
Some suggestions by ABC Life Literacy’s website are to play games that encourage literacy and numeracy development, such as board and card games as well as imaginative self-created activities.
For more information, call Newcombe at 250-791-5720, or visit abclifeliteracy.ca.