On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, the annual Postmedia Raise a Reader campaign once again took to the streets of Barriere to raise funds that are earmarked to promote literacy within the Barriere area (McLure to Little Fort).
This year, thanks to volunteers who hawked special edition newspapers, and the generosity of those who made donations, the local Raise-a-Reader campaign has raised to date $4,587.35; surpassing last year’s total for Barriere of $3,889.55. As in past years, the funds raised in each region and community will be matched by government.
“One hundred per cent of all the funds raised will stay in the area,” said Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach Coordinator (LOC) Jill Hayward, “These funds are used for important and vital literacy programs within our community, and most importantly youth literacy programs. Programs such as Parent Child Mother Goose, Books for Babies, the Blue Bookshelves, Breakfast with Santa, ABC Literacy Fun Day, Literacy and Learning Summer Camps in Barriere, and a number of smaller initiatives that run throughout the year are funded by these dollars.
“I am very appreciative of Marnie Pfeifer who headed up the Raise a Reader fundraiser in Barriere this year, and thank all the wonderful volunteers who came out on Raise-a-Reader Day to help hawk special edition newspapers, take donations, and promote literacy and learning initiatives within our immediate communities, including students from the Barriere Elementary grade 7 class. Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach couldn’t have come in with such a good total without their enthusiastic help and energies.”
Sponsors included: Barriere Lioans Club, Sam’s Pizza, Stamer Logging, North Thompson Coummunities Foundation, Barriere and District Chamber of Commerce, Armour Mountain Office Services, Gilbert Smith Forest Products, Insight Tire, Maureen Chester, Royal Canadian Legion Barriere Branch, Rick Weik, Timeless Treasures, TNRD Area ‘O’ Director Bill Kershaw, Barriere IDA, and Marilyn Salle.
Raise a Reader Day volunteers included Marnie and Gary Pfeifer, District of Barriere Councillor Donna Kibble, Jane Milburn, Dawn McCormick, Audrey Rilcoe, Doreen Landry, Ashley Wohlgemuth, Randy and Pauline Lynch, Dawn Reimer, Valarie Aylward, Randy Prue, and Antoon Houben.
“Literacy exists to empower today’s children and families with the ability to read, write and do mathematics, but it is also about problem solving, decision making, technology and social skills,” said the LOC, “These skills significantly affect the quality of life and the health and social economic well-being of individuals, families and our communities.”
Barriere and area Literacy Outreach is the result of the 2010 Legacies Now Community Literacy Initiative.
The Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach Coordinator works with a group of interested community partners, joining together to develop, maintain and expand literacy levels for children, youth and adults in the communities where we live.