GIVING THE OF LITERACY
Gift
Being able to read is like being able to ride a bike or drive a car — it gives us the ability to change locations, to meet new people and oftentimes, to help others. Thankfully, organizations like Reach Out and Read help to expand early literacy intervention throughout Georgia. An evidence-based, national nonprofit organization, Reach Out and Read promotes early literacy and school readiness by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud at regular pediatric checkups. The model includes providing a new, age-appropriate book for each child to take home at every checkup from 6 months through 5 years. Along with the free book, doctors and nurses also provide guidance to parents about the importance of reading aloud with their children every day. In Georgia, Reach Out and Read serves 60,343 children annually via 57 program sites. Each year, Reach Out and Read medical providers distribute 88,262 books statewide to the children who need them most. For more information on Reach Out and Read, visit reachoutandread.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF PROJECT 7
Mouth Off to Feed the Hungry In the spirit of giving, the easiest way to feed the hungry this season is to join Project 7, a company whose sole mission is to enable consumers the ability to give back and do good with their everyday purchases such as gum, mints, water and coffee found at Caribou Coffee locations as well as Target and Wal-mart stores nationwide. Getting the point across quickly are the Feed the Hungry T-shirts ($25 provides 25 meals) and iPhone cases ($25 provides 10 meals), both of which can be customized to feature “Atlanta.” There’s also The Giving Kit ($100 provides 50 meals). Visit project7.com/feedthehungry/
ptsnorth.com | December 2012 | Points North
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