This year's Read Across America Day was a success! Although we couldn't celebrate in all the traditional ways due to the COVID-19 situation, our volunteers got creative and found ways to celebrate their love for reading. At Heritage Elementary, volunteers read to the children virtually, including: Rep. Blake Moore of Utah’s 1st Congressional District, Ogden School District administrators, members of Ogden Police Department, United Way of Northern Utah CEO Tim Jackson, and Luis Lopez, Ogden City councilman and the director of Weber State University’s Community Education Center.
This year's Read Across America celebration sites included:
- Odyssey Elementary
- Heritage Elementary
- New Bridge School
- Ben Lomond
- Mound Fort Jr. High
- North Ogden Elementary
- Ogden High
- YMCA Community Family Center
- Bear River Head Start
- Brigham City Fine Arts Center
- Youth Impact
- West Haven Elementary
- Valley View Elementary
- Riverdale Elementary
Here are just a couple of highlights:
Bear River Head Start received new books for their 42 students at their Brigham City location. Each child received also received a stuffed animal, slime, mask, hand sanitizer, and a Dr. Seuss notepad. Head Start employees read the books to the children, making it a fun celebration for everyone who attended!
Head Start also shared information about 2-1-1 (specifically VITA tax help), FamilyWize and Bright by Text to help Head Start families access community resources for income taxes, prescription medications, and children's activities.
The Brigham City Fine Arts Center also participated in Read Across America. Besides reading stories, they also acted out "The Thing-a-ma-jigger is Coming Today," had a costume contest, made fingers puppets and finished with a puppet show. The Fine Arts Center and all the "things" who attended had a lot of fun!
During UWNU's Book Drive, which coincided with Read Across America Day, the community helped raise $500 and donated over 5,000 books. Thank you to our community for yet again showing their generosity in helping children develop a lifelong love of reading.
