The United Way of the Big Bend is hosting its second annual “Read United” campaign. As Sascha Cordner reports, hundreds of public schools are participating in an effort to encourage a love of reading among first graders.
More than 4500 books will be distributed to 350 first grade classrooms in the eight-county Big Bend region, thanks to the United Way of the Big Bend. The group’s President Heather Mitchell says as part of the campaign, 150 volunteers will then read to the students.
“And, you bring two books with you and read and then you actually hand a brand new book to every single first grader in the classroom, and they get to write their name in their book, and keep their book, and the students love to have readers come in. Having someone read aloud to you is a great way to involve the students as well.”
Thousands of books were donated by Books-A Million, Scholastic Books, and Progress Energy to help with the effort.
