Communities in School collects books during 'Days of Caring'
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 18, 2014 1:46 PM
Communities in Schools will spend its "Days of Caring" this year promoting literacy among children.
CIS Executive Director Selena Bennett said the annual United Way effort seemed like the ideal opportunity to collect books for elementary school students in Wayne County who do not have reading materials at home -- that even though some of them may get to the library to borrow books, it would be an added bonus to provide them something they can read again and again.
But in order to accomplish its goal, CIS needs the community's help.
Books will be collected at the Wayne County Public Library -- and other libraries in the area -- this week.
Those interested in contributing to the cause are asked to bring any new or gently used books that would be of interest to students in kindergarten through fourth grade to an area library.
Once the drive is over, the books will be distributed at area elementary schools.
"We can connect with the school staff in order to target children who are in the greatest need," Mrs. Bennett said. "During November and into December, so many of your school counselors are working on wish lists for children."
The project is being promoted in several ways.
At the six schools where CIS has success coaches -- Goldsboro and Southern Wayne high schools and Brogden, Grantham, Mount Olive and Spring Creek middle schools -- there are grassroots effort to participate.
And the CIS office on William Street will open its doors to donors, too.
"There is a collaborative effort among several different agencies," Mrs. Bennett said. "So if any organization wants to participate, I would encourage them to join in."
And the library is doing more than serving as a drop-off site.
Kate Price, library assistant at the main branch on Ash Street, will coordinate story times both during and after the collection period. Mrs. Bennett hopes the drive is a success -- that Wayne County will wrap its arms around those students without the means to read at home.
"We hope that we'll get a lot of community support for this project," she said.