By Shelly Joyner
What is Reach a Reader?
Literacy is needed everywhere – at home, work, school and in the community. It is about how we navigate, communicate and make sense of the world.
Since 1999, communities across Canada have celebrated National Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27th in unique and creative ways. In 100 Mile House, we celebrate through Reach a Reader, which raises funds to support important, local family literacy programs.
What is family literacy? Strong, vibrant and resilient families and communities create a society that is socially and economically successful.
At the centre of this society is lifelong learning and it begins in the family. Family is a child’s first and most important teacher – helping children through the early years of life, through school and into the future.
Family literacy is about building stronger families and healthy communities. Family literacy programs focus on developing literacy within the family as a whole – developing stronger relationships between parents and their children and getting parents involved in their own and their child’s lifelong literacy development.
Where does your money go? It takes an entire community to raise a healthy, confident and successful adult and citizen – community members and partners working together, collaborating and contributing for the good of all.
Donations to Raise a Reader for a special edition of the 100 Mile House Free Press newspapers go to supporting local family literacy programs including:
• Books for Babies – giving board books and family literacy information to every family with a newborn.
• Bright Red Bookshelf Program – providing free children’s books all year round on publicly accessible and well-maintained bookshelves at Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (CFEC), the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the South Cariboo Rec. Centre and rural school locations.
• Group tutoring – supporting parents to further their education, while providing childcare, tutor support and a hot meal.
• Partner Assisted Learning – short and long term adult support with skilled outreach co-ordinators and trained volunteer tutors
• Book donations throughout the year to CFEC, food hampers and other family support programs.
Shelly Joyner is the Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy executive director.