(Canton, OH) September 28, 2020 – 34 volunteers assembled 85 literacy kits to help provide children with multi-sensory experiences to support and enhance learning.
“Thank you to everyone who put together literacy kits,“ says United Way of Greater Stark County YLS steering committee member, Autaum Kendle. “With the added stressors from COVID-19 in the schools and learning remotely, we wanted to support kids who might be struggling. This project allowed us to do that in a safe way while also offering volunteers a project to work on at home with their families.”
Volunteers registered to participate in the assembly with a fee of $10 per kit. The fee helped cover the cost of supplies. Kit supplies were picked up on Sept. 18 with a drive-up contact-less format, then volunteers assembled them at home with their households, and returned the completed kits on Sept. 25.
“Projects like literacy kits are such a great way to ensure kids in our community have the resources available to empower themselves and create a pathway to success through learning,“ says Laura Prengaman, United Way Assistant Director of Campaign.
According to United for Libraries, a study revealed that young children that have early experience with reading and writing were two times more likely to have letters and word-sight recognition, as well as understand words in context. Activities like literacy kits help encourage the development of reading and writing skills through the enjoyment of interaction.
Kits contained: Charlotte’s Web book; crayons and pencil; goldfish crackers; bookmarks; activities – crossword puzzle, coloring page, journal prompt; toy pig & spider; spiderweb craft; and a note of encouragement.
Through an in-kind sponsorship from AultCare, each kit is provided in a brightly colored drawstring bag with a color-changing pencil.
The kits created will be distributed to 2nd – 4th graders through Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health who offer emotional and behavioral health services that help children, youth, and families successfully meet life’s challenges.
For more information about remote volunteer opportunities, contact Laura Prengaman, Assistant Director, Campaign at 330-491-9953 or email [email protected].
About Young Leaders Society
United Way’s Young Leaders Society is a group of passionate young professionals who come together to educate, engage and inspire individuals across Greater Stark County. They harness their time and talents through mentorship, fundraising and volunteerism to activate education initiatives and build a better community. Education sets the foundation for the future, and it is the area where they believe they can make the greatest impact. As young leaders, their personal and professional success would not have been possible without support from mentors, teachers and advocates who helped along the way. Now they’re paying it forward for the next generation. More information is available at uwstark.org/young-leaders-society .
About United Way of Greater Stark County
United Way of Greater Stark County fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We win by living United. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. By mobilizing the best resources. And by inspiring individuals to join the fight against their community’s most daunting social crisis. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities in Greater Stark County. In order to live better, we must live United. For more information about United Way of Greater Stark County visit uwstark.org. Offices are at 401 Market Avenue North, Suite 300, Canton, Ohio 44702. (330) 491-0445.