The Kiwanis Club of Springville had the opportunity to host guest speakers Amy Collyer, and Alyssa Kerby with Early Learning Essentials, formerly Mountainland Head Start, during the March 16th meeting held at the DUP Museum, 175 South Main St, Springville. They spoke about the importance of reading programs in the school and home setting and the need for early learning books in the headstart program.
There is a great need for children’s books in the classroom and readers for children to take home. The Headstart classrooms always accept new or gently used books for their reading take-home libraries, as well as donations and volunteers to read to the children in the classrooms. Many families in the program do not have access to new books, so the donated books are typically the first time these children will own something significant towards their literacy growth because of incredible donors who know the importance of literacy and helping a child succeed.
Reading is an essential part of our everyday life because it is a fundamental part of how we communicate. Through reading, children can understand the world around them, learn about their environment, and gain further insight into the world, people, and even themselves. Immersing a child early in reading fosters literacy, improves cognitive development, boosts memory function, creates a love of learning, strengthens bonds, and enhances focus. Literacy at a young age helps children develop a rich vocabulary, self-expression, and reading comprehension, giving them the tools to become successful readers and lifelong learners.
Contact Alyssa Kerby at akerby@eleutah.org to donate books, schedule reading in the classroom, or arrange to send monetary donations.
The Springville Kiwanis Club meets twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays. If you want to join the next meeting, email springvillekiwanisclub@gmail.com. You can also sign up for volunteer opportunities at JustServe.org.
Two of the most significant volunteer opportunities are during Springville Art City Days, where the club has a Scone Booth on June 7-10. The sale of the scones fund scholarships and the large food drive in December. Sign up on JustServe.org.
Together we can help strengthen our community through compassionate service to build a strong quality of life. Serving is vital for both the person serving and the recipient. Both grow and develop through the experience and compassionate actions of community members. The greatness of our community is measured by those who serve.
Submitted by Melanie C. Bott, Springville Kiwanis Club
