Volunteers across the Big Bend will read and give a book to first-graders as part of United Way of the Big Bend’s (UWBB) “Days of Doing” called READ UNITED.

The Power of the Purse (POP) Committee will coordinate the event this year.  POP, an outreach effort of United Way, represents a dynamic group of more than 600 women dedicated to making a difference in the Big Bend area. The READ UNITED effort was developed to encourage a love of reading in students and provide books to get them started on this journey. More than 4,500 books will be distributed throughout the Big Bend.

Every first-grade, public-school student in the Big Bend (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties) will be included.  The READ UNITED event also gives volunteers an opportunity to read to kids.

READ UNITED Volunteers will adopt a school or classroom, pick up/deliver books to the assigned first-grade classroom, read a book to the class, and then distribute a book to every student. 

READ UNITED would not be possible without the generosity of the following contributing organizations:  Books-A-Million 3,000 books, Scholastic 1,000 books, Progress Energy – Florida.

The event will take place during the week of April 30 through May 4, 2012.  Participating Wakulla County schools include Crawfordville Elementary, Medart Elementary, Riversink Elementary, and Shadeville Elementary.

Reading helps children develop vital language skills, open up new worlds, enrich their lives, and enhance social skills.  UWBB’s DAYS OF DOING was created to promote the spirit and value of volunteerism, increase the awareness of local human-service needs, and demonstrate what people working together for the community's good can accomplish.  “Days of Doing” is a great opportunity to make a positive impact in the community.

“We are very grateful to the Big Bend United Way for the gift of books for our young readers," said Sharon Kemp, Medart Elementary Principal.  "The gift of a book lasts a lifetime.  This will only serve to reinforce how proud we are of our beginning readers.”

“We all read every day, whether on websites or traffic signs," said Mathieu Cavell, Volunteer Reader and Volunteer Services Coordinator for Leon County.  "But as Days of Doing volunteers for Leon County and United Way, we know that reading a book is something truly special.  One book can make all the difference in a child's life, and we want to be a part of that change.”

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