The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Literacy aid a new chapter for United Way women
A group of like-minded women within United Way Services of Geauga County decided to take on the literacy challenge a couple of years ago, and their efforts are bearing fruit.
Women United — formerly The Women’s Leadership Council — formed with the primary purpose of supporting United Way’s mission to improve the quality of life and create positive change in the community.
Literacy was identified as the focus following a review of issues affecting the county. Fund-raising kicked off at Philanthropia, Landerhaven’s annual luncheon
designed to benefit Northeast Ohio nonprofits.
Since then, more than 7,600 new and used books have been distributed in the community via various programs.
“While our county is considered one of the most affluent in Ohio, we have found through a recent study conducted by United Way that 25 percent of the households in Geauga County are falling below a sustainability threshold and, therefore, are struggling to fulfill their basic needs such as housing, child care, transportation and even food,” said Betsy Covington, engagement manager for United Way Services of Geauga County. “These are families and individuals who are working, sometimes more than one job, but no longer receive benefits because of their income and are struggling to make ends meet.”
Can’t judge a book by its cover
In Geauga, the percentage of students who scored “proficient” when taking the fourth-grade state proficiency exam in reading declined from 84.2 percent in 2015 to 78.4 percent in 2017, according to information provided by Women United.
Other facts from Women United regarding literacy and academic success:
• Studies show that being read to as a child and having books in the home are the two most important predictors of future academic success.
• Two-thirds of low-income families do not own a single book.
• Economically disadvantaged students score lower on standardized measures as compared to their peers.
• Academically, children growing up in homes with no books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books, even when controlled for other key factors such as income and parents’ education.
The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read
to at home prior to beginning school, according to the 1985 National Commission on Reading.
Mobilizing the mission
In spring 2017, Women United connected with the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank and received 2,000 used books. It since has benefitted from various book drives, along with more Book Bank contributions, to accrue nearly 10,000 books.
The group hosted “Sort and Sip” events to clean and sort the books by reading level to prepare for distribution in the community.
Ten Little Free Libraries were built at United Way’s 2017 Day of Action and installed throughout county parks. Women United is charged with keeping them stocked and organized.
Distributions to Geauga County schools were organized so that students could take books home during the holidays and summer to read and keep as their own.
In addition, in partnership with the Geauga County Public Library and Cardinal Schools, the group helped to purchase the book
“Wonder” for its One School One Book anti-bullying campaign.
“These days, it is very difficult to get most students to read outside of assignments,” said Peggy Karg, Cardinal Middle School eighth-grade intervention specialist. “But these donated books give them the power to choose what they read, and the students were excited to know they could keep them. Some students have few or no books at home.
“When we received ‘Wonder’ for all students, several told me they were amazed that they enjoyed it because they had never liked a book before. I believe these donations are opening a door for some of our students.”
Joining forces
Partnerships are enabling Women United to launch two new projects this summer.
They include Reach Out and Read and a Reading and Feeding program, offered with the help of Lake Health Chardon Pediatrics and Geauga County Public Library, respectively.
Reach Out and Read involves
a pediatrician introducing a new book at the beginning of a well-child visit and providing meaningful, positive literacy promotion to the parent or guardian. Women United funds the purchase of new books.
The Lake Health practice has more than 2,000 patients ages 5 and younger. The program is scheduled to launch by Sept. 1.
“There is an amazing amount of work that has been done in the last year to get books in the hands of residents and encouraging them to read,” said Lake Health Physician Services Director Susan Kruger, a Chester Township resident and active Women United member. “As an avid reader myself, I know how much reading has affected my life. I’m excited to be helping to improve the literacy rate in Geauga and especially proud of bringing books to children who might not otherwise have them.”
Reading and Feeding seeks to stop the “summer slide,” or loss of reading fluency, that can occur when school is out. It involves distributing age-appropriate
books and snacks via the Geauga County Public Library “Fun Bus” at Leaders Park, Scranton Woods, Thompson Square and Mineral Lake locations.
While the program started out as a way to support families who receive free and reduced lunches, book recipients aren’t screened for income.
“We believe that lifting up the whole community together is the way to help all families, including those who are struggling to fulfill their basic needs,” Covington said.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library also is among the group’s offerings to increase literacy.
Women United has an overall membership of 230 with a core group of 40 active participants, Covington said.
“I would like to mention our co-chairs, Eileen Adkins and Heidi Campany, whose energy and focus have guided this group to grow the many programs and initiatives, and provided the leadership which has made Women United the success it is today,” she said.