Have you ever read to a child from a storybook, helped a young person to form the letters of the alphabet with a pencil, or rendered assistance when needed with multiplication tables for a student?
If the answer is “yes”, you have passed along literacy and learning skills that contribute to the foundation for social and economic well being within the community where you live.
The Canadian Council of Learning states; “Literacy is about more than just words and meaning. It is important because it affects peoples’ lives directly, impacting their chances of employment, level of income and type of occupation. Research show that higher literacy skills can lead to better jobs, increased incomes and greater productivity. Literacy skills also affect social status, level of political participation, opportunities for cultural expression, health, the survival of languages, access to social services and opportunities to learn. Having good literacy skills enhances a country’s quality of life by reducing poverty, lowering unemployment, lessening the need for public assistance and encouraging better parenting.”
Good literacy skills are a vital part of a child’s education as they grow within our communities. Schools provide the opportunities to gain these skills, as well as community literacy and learning outreach programs.
The Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach Program, administered through Yellowhead Community Services, is gearing up for the Postmedia Raise a Reader Day, to be held in the community on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Raise a Reader Day is the major fundraiser for youth literacy programs over the upcoming 12 months in Barriere and area. Every dollar raised during Raise a Reader Day in Barriere will stay in the community, and most importantly, every dollar raised will be matched by the government.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, volunteers in bright orange t-shirts will be out and about in Barriere hawking a special edition of the Kamloops This Week newspaper for donations to the Raise a Reader Program in Barriere. You will find them at the elementary and high schools first thing in the morning, and within the business community and downtown core from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Please lend your support to this worthwhile fundraiser, your donations will not only help to provide literacy and learning programs for our youth, but will also be contributing to the social and economic well being of your own community.
If you would like to make a donation towards the Raise-a-Reader fundraiser in Barriere ahead of Sept. 22, please call Marnie Pfeifer and she will be glad to pick up your cheque. Marnie can be reached at 250-672-0301. All donations of over $25 will receive a receipt by mail if requested.
If you would like more information on Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach programs contact Literacy Outreach Coordinator Jill Hayward at: jill.h@yellowheadcs.ca, or call 250-319-8023, or Yellowhead Community Services 250-672-9773.
Let’s all join together to help increase literacy in our community!
See you on Tuesday, Sept. 22!