Local nonprofit The Craddock Center recently continued a long-standing tradition that celebrates both Read Across America Day and the birthday of children’s author, Dr. Seuss.
As part of its early childhood literacy program, the Cherry Log enrichment center provided 1,100 brand-new Dr. Seuss books to children in its nine-county service area.
In Gilmer County, students at Gilmer Head Start and pre-K classes at Ellijay Elementary School, Clear Creek Elementary School and North Georgia Christian Academy received a total of 234 books, noted Craddock Center Executive Director Kirk Cameron.
“Normally, our staff would visit the classrooms dressed as Dr. Seuss characters like the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2 to deliver the books and celebrate with the children,” said Cameron, adding that those in-person activities were not done this year due to the continuing pandemic.
The book donations were made possible by contributions from individuals, organizations and Amicalola Electric, which made a $1,000 contribution with funds from its Operation Round Up program. Power bills of participating members are rounded up to the next highest dollar and the funds are put to various charitable causes.
United Community Bank of Blue Ridge and Tri-State EMC also contributed funding for the book distribution program, Cameron noted.
“We were able to do this because of the many monetary and book donations from you,” he said to those who donated, in some way, to the project.
“Read Across America Day is a day to celebrate the joys of reading. It also brings awareness to the importance of reading in education,” Cameron added.
The day is observed March 2 of each year, which is also Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
“Most kids have grown up reading his many entertaining books. The Craddock Center is making sure our kids can share in the joy of his books like many of us have over the years,” Cameron said.
The center will continue its childhood literacy boosting in May with a new program, Summer Sendoff, which will distribute books, activity bags and reading logs that can be enjoyed over summer break.
It will also be a way to combat the summer slide, or achievement gap, that young readers often face, Cameron noted.
“We will be providing the children Little Golden Books,” he added.