2nd Annual Community Literacy Celebration

On Thursday, July 18, community members of all ages gathered at the Mack Gaston Community Center to attend the 2^nd Annual Community Literacy Celebration!  The registration line was out the door with hundreds of Dalton-Whitfield residents excited for the festivities.  At registration each family received a goody bag which included educational information. 

 

 

R2L Committee member Brian Cooksey at registration handing out the goody bags.

After registering, each child walked down the red carpet to meet and have their photo made with the Cat in the Hat.  The famous book character ignited the excitement of the kids as they entered the event!


Special guest Cat in the Hat (Tom Bartley, Family Support Council Success By Six Director) welcomed each child to the event.

During the event the children enjoyed reading circles with books for every reading level.  At the reading circles, volunteers read to the children and the children also read to the volunteers.  After a book was read the child documented the book they read on a poster board. 



Children listening to a book being read at the event!

Children excited to record the books they read!

The participants also enjoyed several crafts during the event.  Each family received a bin to store books at home.  At the event they enjoyed decorating their bins and also made their own book marks, hand fans, and stick puppets. 

Event participants drawing a tow truck on their bin.

Information booths were set up around the gym for the families to receive valuable information on services available in Dalton-Whitfield County.  These booths included: WIC and the Whitfield County Health Department, United Way of Northwest Georgia, Adult Education of Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Boys and Girls Club, Family Support Council, Kool Smiles, AmeriGroup, and Promotoras de Salud.  Big Red Reads and the Northwest Georgia Regional Library donated books for every child at the Celebration and the Girl Scouts provided face painting for the children. 

 

A volunteer at the Northwest Georgia Regional Library booth helps the children pick out free books. 

 

Healthy snacks were provided for every person who attended the event.  Participants enjoyed bananas, apples, carrots, water, and more which were donated by Whitfield County Schools. 

R2L Committee member Suzanne Harbin (Left) with her healthy snack crew before the event.

Throughout the afternoon children and their parents were presented with complimentary items to take home.  They received free books, pencils, stickers, wristbands, a Readers to Leaders t-shirt, and other special treats. 

Archway Education Professional Katy Green handing out free wristbands at the event. 

After the fun filled afternoon of reading, crafts, snacks, and goodies the children who participated in the literacy event ended the day playing at the splash pad!

Fun in the sun at the splash pad!

The 2^nd Annual Community Literacy Celebration was a huge success!  This event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Readers to Leaders Committee, local volunteers, and sponsors.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

Check out the following letter to the editor by Readers to Leaders Chair Pam Partain thanking our volunteers:  http://daltondailycitizen.com/opinion/x751142681/Letter-Profoundly-grateful

Members of the Readers to Leaders Committee.

R2L Sponsors.