Alexander County Partnership for children was the site of the kick off for “March Reading Madness” on Monday, March 1st. The event was designed to spark interest in reading among preschoolers in the county. Volunteers began the morning by listening to Ms. Mel, Children’s Librarian at the Alexander County Public Library, read the book “If You Give a Moose a Muffin.” while enjoying a light breakfast of muffins, coffee, juice, and milk. Following the reading Ms. Mel provided suggestions to volunteers to assist them in reading to the children.
Community volunteers then traveled to eight local child care centers to read a favorite book of children of all ages “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” by Laura Numeroff. Children learned about a series of events that happens when a moose is given a muffin in a story of prediction. Volunteers then invited children to join in a muffin snack. The Partnership for Children provided a copy of the book for each classroom.
Over 400 children ages three, four and five were reached through this Partnership for Children outreach activity held in 29 classrooms that included the following sites: Salem Sloan Child Enrichment Center, First Baptist Child Development Center, Alexander County Head Start, Calling Kids Child Development Center, , Millersville Child Development Center, Small Hands Day Care, Alexander Central High School Child Development Center and LuLu’s Child Enrichment Center.
Organizations and businesses providing volunteers for this event included: Kohl’s of Hickory A Team, Friends of the Alexander County Public Library, Alexander Chamber of Commerce, Alexander County Partnership for Children Board of Directors, Alexander Department of Social Services, Alexander County Public Library, First Community Bank, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The Partnership for Children extends appreciation to all the volunteers who made this event a reality: Kay Hamby, Kendra Dyson, Mitzi Bumgarner, Linda Dunbar, Denise Elder, Chelsie Brady, Jordan Estes, Nancy Mecimore, Glenn Deal Jr, Kathy Riddle, Deb Grenn, Melissa Hager.
The partnership is pleased to offer this activity as literacy event that joins community partners in providing a collaborative reading effort as a means to increase interest in reading. If you or your organization is interested in participating in future community literacy events for preschoolers please call the partnership at 632-3799.
