![]( "Children throughout Nassau County receive a free book in the mail each month through local donations. Children are eligible from birth to age 5, regardless of family income.")
Children throughout Nassau County receive a free book in the mail each month through local donations. Children are eligible from birth to age 5, regardless of family income.
Ferst Readers of Nassau County was amazed by the generosity of the families, faculty and staff of Nassau County Schools.
During the school week of Feb. 25 through March 1, all public elementary schools participated in a coin drive to support early literacy in Nassau County. They raised over $8,600. This donation will give 240 Nassau County children from birth to 5 years old a free, age-appropriate book and literacy resources mailed monthly to their home for one year.
This is Ferst Readers of Nassau County’s fourth year providing books and literacy resources to families throughout Nassau County. Over 900 children have received a book each month and almost 14,000 books have been mailed to homes across the county. Money raised in Nassau County stays in Nassau County.
Research shows many children from low-income families do not have a single age-appropriate book in the home, which means they start kindergarten lacking the verbal skills and background knowledge they need to succeed in school.
None of this would have been possible without the Nassau County School Board’s approval. Also, Kristi Simpkins, Brenda Murphy, the principals, the reading coaches and the teachers were all instrumental in this effort in promoting the coin drive.
Ferst Readers of Nassau County hopes its mission will make the school district’s mission a lot easier as the children in the Ferst Readers program enter school with the foundational skills necessary to succeed and a love of reading.
Ferst Readers also thanks the other people and businesses who helped make this coin drive a huge success.
VyStar Credit Union’s Callahan branch, including Jessica Hurlock and all the employees and patrons of VyStar during the three days the volunteer Community Action Team was depositing and counting coins.
All area Winn Dixie stores, including Hilliard (Brandon), Callahan (Jordan), Yulee (Mark/Brittany) and Fernandina Beach (Greg) for donating the ice cream for the winning classes at each school. The UPS Store in Yulee for cutting 5,000 flyers. Walmart in Yulee (Mr. Johnson) for providing all the paper products, utensils, chocolate syrup and sprinkles for the winning classes’ parties.
Chick-fil-A in Yulee for donating free food cards, which were given to the top school – Emma Love Hardee – which collected over $2,000.
The top class was at Yulee Primary School. Mrs. Hannah’s first grade class collected over $200.
If you would like to volunteer or donate to Ferst Readers of Nassau County, contact nassaucounty@ferstreaders.org, visit Ferst Readers of Nassau County on Facebook or call Michelle Maddox at 904-248-0165.