The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nonprofit brings the power of reading to metro youth
As one of nine children, Sally Eggleston’s family encouraged the kids to use their imaginations to create their own entertainment.
“The highlight of my week was the family trip to the library, where I would load up with books. I was an avid reader as a child and still am! The worlds opened up to me through those books were absolutely limitless and filled with endless possibilities,” said Eggleston.
To bring the same excitement and limitless possibilities to children today, Eggleston launched WeLove2Read, a new nonprofit that aims to provide fun, age-appropriate books to foster, shelter, homeless and other at-risk children, to instill a love of, and respect for, reading and knowledge.
Through the community’s help, the nonprofit plans to reach out to young people through various ways. A portion of the dollars raised will go to local libraries for the exclusive use of adding to its children collections. Many children visit libraries and this program will supplement the library’s reading materials without having to buy books.
Additionally, the nonprofit will work with organizations such as The Boys and Girls Clubs, churches with homeless ministries and food pantries, missions and The Salvation Army to prepare and deliver book bags with a least two books and, if possible, other reading and writing materials to be handed out to at-risk for literacy children. It also plans to work with other nonprofits with missions to help improve literacy in low-income and transitional populations.
To make these programs possible, and to see first-hand the impact of reading, WeLove2Read holds community Read-a-thons to raise money and awareness for at-risk for literacy children. The inaugural read-a-thon, “A Heartfelt Read,” will be held Feb. 9 – 11 in celebration of Valentine’s Day, and is open to volunteers.
While the initial events will be held in the Atlanta area, Eggleston encourages communities interested in holding an event to connect with WeLove2Read.
“Our goal is to bring these kids who are facing what may seem overwhelming challenges in their lives hope and inspiration, and to open their imaginations. We hope to encourage them to reach beyond their limits and be whatever they want to be,” she added.
In other news
The Heritage Community Foundation presented a $3,000 grant to Bloom Our Youth in Fayetteville. The grant will be used to support the organization’s ongoing work with foster families with the purchase sturdy storage bins for their year-round clothes closet (The Bloom Closet) and for the purchase of car seats to loan out to foster families.
Customers and associates of Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which includes Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina, as Kroger contributed more than $790,000 in six weeks to Kroger’s 2017 Can Hunger campaign, an initiative benefiting the local food banks. The donated amount surpassed its $750,00 goal. From Nov. 12 – Dec. 24, Kroger customers supported the annualCan Hunger campaign by purchasing $1, $3 and $5 icons. Each icon purchased benefitted Feeding America food banks and helped provide food to local families in need.