The volunteers at County Kids Read were busy this past Friday sorting and shelving our new shipment of books. Some of the books had been purchased from publishers and some were obtained from a pop-up event organized by First Books Canada. Thanks to donations from the community and the gift from First Books Canada, the book shelves are full again!
Cardiac Rehab Group Donation to County Kids Read
Anne Preston picks up book donations from the Cardiac Rehab program in the County. With Anne are the staff of the Cardiac Rehab program.
Kiwanis Club Donates to County Kids Read
Jill Hill and Anne Preston from County Kids Read accept a generous donation from Michael Smith and Sally Margueratt of the Kiwanis Club of Picton.
Author Melanie Florence Visits PEC
County Kids Reads hosted an author event this past Thursday featuring Melanie Florence for the grade four and five students from Sophiasburgh Public School and The Tyendinaga Mohawk Public School. The presentation was held in the Legacy Room at Books and Company in Picton. Melanie is an indigenous author currently living in Toronto. She has written many award winning books about indigenous issues for children and youth.
Wellington and District Lions Support County Kids Read
The Wellington and District Lions Club raised money for County Kids Read during their August donation jar fundraiser. Forty donation jars were placed in various businesses across the county to collect money.
Anne Preston of County Kids Read (second from left) accepts a generous cheque from Lions members.
Picton Kiwanis Club Welcomes County Kids Read
On Monday evening, September 17, the Picton Kiwanis Club hosted County Kids Read. Anne Preston spoke to the club about our program. Pictured here from left to right are Linda Wilson of Kiwanis, and Anne Preston and Marlene Fraser from County Kids Read.
New Indigenous and Multicultural Books for County Kids Read
Janna Smith, executive director of the PEC Arts Council, Anne Preston and Deb Grund from County Kids Read display some of the Indigenous and Multicultural books that County Kids Read will be purchasing and adding to the CKR collection. The grant from the Community Justice Fund (County Community Foundation) will enable County Kids Read to add approximately 300 additional Indigenous and multicultural books to their collection.
Queen Elizabeth Kindergarten Orientation
County Kids Read distributed books at the Kindergarten orientation on June 19 for Queen Elizabeth School. The orientation was held at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, which is the new space for the QE students.
County Kids Read Goes Global
County Kids Read received a large number of books from Kids Can Press that were global, and international in scope and content. There were more than enough books to share – so County Kids Read sent some of the books to children in Ghana. Although the container was 5 months late in arriving, the shipment was finally received in May by appreciative children at schools in Atakor and Dzita. Peta Hall, who was in Ghana when the books arrived, sent this note and the accompanying photos, which are definitely worth a thousand words!
“And what a gift you gave those children in Atorkor and Dzita. When the box was opened and the kids got to touch and read the books … they were enthralled, engrossed, absorbed, fascinated and awed! Seriously, it was better than Christmas for them. I gave some to the Basic school in Atorkor but the majority went to the Learning Centre in Dzita (next door village). It is the only one of its kind in the region; it’s small and part of the Dream Big Ghana NGO. Started by a brilliant, caring young man, Dougal, and concentrating on African heritage and culture, it has books, puzzles, games and some computers for the older children. It features African related stories, or subjects, so your books were PERFECT, being international in subject matter and images. They were SO appreciated. When I left, the librarians Godsway and Emmanuel both thanked me again and again for the new additions. They will all be carefully covered and catalogued and avidly read no doubt!” (Peta Hall)
Peta Hall is a well-known Bloomfield potter and arts supporter. She has been very involved in the development and marketing of artisans in Africa. Since 2008 she has been instrumental in setting up a woman’s textile cooperative called Diderot, meaning “there is hope” in the Volta region of Ghana.
Books for County Babies welcome Babies and Beyond
County Kids Read launched its new project, Books for County Babies, at the Babies and Beyond group this week. Babies and Beyond is a program from the Hub Family and Child Centre for young moms under the age of twenty–one. It was a fun morning and each mom received a book bag.
