Check out what's going on.

Check out what's going on.

R-E-A-D Read, Educate, and Dream

On this page I will list updates about my project and activities.

I'm donating books to East View Apartments

Since I started this project I have had the chance to meet a lot of great people and children. I was able to take part in the "Run to Read" fund raiser for the Literacy volunteers. I recruited eight friends and we raised $85.00. I have donated 115 books to our youth community center, 90 books and books on CD to a houseing center of elderly and disabled,

60 books and stuffed animals to our domestic violence center, 100 books and 10 DVD's to the pediatric wing of Healthsouth rehabilitation hospital. I have volunteered at the Energy Express summer literacy program. Once a week I read to pre-schoolers at the day care. I handed out 105 books to the

community at a block party.

In August I visited a day care and read books to the

pre-schoolers and toddlers. I gave each of the children a book to take home and left a copy with the daycare.

I took part in the local community parade and handed

out 200 books to the toddlers along the parade route.

I was able to take advantage of a wonderful day at Pricketts Fort and hand out 40 books. We are now in the planning stage for a book drive to assist with Heart of America distribute books to needy schools and children.

With the asistance of the Fairmont Marion County Transit I had a one day book drive where the passengers could ride the bus with a donation of a book instead of paying the fare. Several businesses let me put out drop boxes to collect books. I had a month long book drive at my school and community. With monatary donations from South Carolina and a can drive to raise money, I was able to purchase books from yard sales and discount stores.

Now that I have dug my way out from under all these books I can box them up and get ready to send them on their way. After a month long book drive for Heart of America I have collected 800 books to send to a school library, classrooms and to childrens homes. I found out that the books I collected are going to Watson school in Fairmont, WV

My R.E.A.D project is doing really well. I have collected over 3034 books worth over $13,064.52. I took part in many projects that include "Lights on after school", an event held a our Mall. I was able to provide 200 books for families that attended the "Lights on after school." I handed out 300 books at the Mall on Halloween night to parents of Trick or Treaters instead of candy. The children and parents seemed really excited to get a book to read. Over my Thanksgiving break I read the book "When Santa was a Kid," to 40 children at two daycares. I sent home a copy of the book with each child. I had the opportunity to be part of the Handicaped Christmas party where I provided 90 books to the families. In the local Christmas Parade I will be handing out over 200 books along the parade route.

2007 - In continuing with my project I collected $16,000.00 of books that I made availble to the community. I handed out over 800 books at Lights on after school, and 700 for Halloween at the Mall. I made visits to all of the 14 Head Start centers in our county. They were read a book and the book was added to their classroom library. Each child recieved a new stuffed animal, that went alone with the story, to take home. I conducted another book drive for Heart of America and donated 600 books to East Park school. I handed out 500 "The Highest Call" books at the Veterans Day Parade and took 200 books to the VA Hospital and Nursing Homes. Stuffed animals were handed out in the Christmas parade. I am looking forward to starting the book drive for 2008.

I started 2008 off with a bang. There was over 5004 books that valued $21,040 donted on Jan 2. Another $2,321.86 in books was donted from SC. That brings the total of books to

$52,361.

In the last couple months I have made donations to the local hospital every month. I made several donations to the VA hospital. I donated hundreds of books on tape to the three senior centers in our county. I set up a distribution at the Mall in the neighboring county and at the local festival.

READ, EDUCATE AND DREAM