United Way of Richland County is receiving a positive community response from the Big Red Bookshelf project, which is now close to completing its first full year.
So far, over 3,500 books have been collected to be dispersed throughout Richland County, said Community Outreach Coordinator April Hedrick. Big Red Bookshelf was created in an effort to increase childhood literacy by providing new or gently-used books to children ranging from the ages of newborn through third graders.
Executive director Bob Maxey stated, “All the people in education tell us that the kids need to be prepared. A pretty significant amount of kids are not prepared when they enter school so we are trying to help bolster that.”
Currently, there are bookshelves housed at the YMCA, WIC, and Job and Family services offices in Mansfield, and one at the Bellville Neighborhood Outreach Center. The hope is that more bookshelves will be placed throughout Richland County, including Butler, Ontario, Lucas, and Shelby, said Hedrick.
Just recently, students at The Ohio State University at Mansfield helped create a bookshelf to be housed at the United Way office. Additionally, the students held their own book drive to help fill the shelves.
Hedrick noted that the students helped collect over 1,000 books. “It took me three days to sort them all,” she said.
Pioneer and Career Technology students also created bookshelves and hosted a book drive for the project.
Barnes and Noble is also holding a book drive for the project. Customers can choose to donate a book upon purchase of any store item, said Hedrick.
Community members can get involved in the Big Red Bookshelf project by donating their new or gently-used books to any of the bookshelf locations.
One parent commented about the project, “My children are four and six and attend the Mansfield YMCA childcare. They have really enjoyed and looked forward to picking a book off of the Big Red Bookshelf when we would leave for the day. We would read to them at home at night and then we would either bring it back and pick a new book the next day or bring one of our own books from home to replace it.”
Keeping consistent with the first event, United Way intends to host its second annual Big Red Bookshelf event on Jan. 20 at the Mansfield YMCA from 12-2 p.m.
The speakers include Bob Maxey, OSU-Mansfield Dean Steve Gavazzi, and James Tweedt with the YMCA.
Each child who attends will get his or her own book, said Hedrick. She added, “It’s a nice annual event to remind people about the importance of reading.”
In other United Way news, the Real Life Community Gardens is close to commencing. Through this program, eligible candidates are able to operate their own garden for their personal use. The mission is to produce nutritious food, help reduce family food budgets, and create opportunities for recreation, exercise and education.
Enrollment to participate in the program will run from January 15 through March 15.
Real Life Church has donated a plot of land in Madison for a community garden. Town and Country Co-Op are donating the materials needed to start a garden.
To be eligible to participate, candidates need to be within 200 percent of the poverty level and have a paystub or documentation of assistances from Job and Family Services.
Qualified candidates will receive a 25 foot by 25 foot plot of land and “Get Started and Grow” starter kit, which includes a bucket, trowel, gloves, hoe and tomato stake. They must also attend the Gardening 101 class and adhere to the “Agreement of Responsibility” contract.
Last but not least, United Way has reached 70 percent of its campaign goal by raising $1,178,409.34 as of Dec. 29, 2013.
For more information regarding upcoming United Way events and campaign progress, or to donate here.
“All the people in education tell us that the kids need to be prepared. A pretty significant amount of kids are not prepared when they enter school so we are trying to help bolster that,” stated Bob Maxey.
