Program distributes 2,400 free books
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 19, 2004 2:00 AM
Communities in Schools was recently given 2,400 books, which were promptly sorted and distributed to students in 15 elementary schools.
Sudie Davis, director of Communities in Schools, said more than 70,000 free books were donated to 35 Community in Schools programs across the state this month.
The effort was part of a collaboration between Communities in Schools of North Carolina, McGraw Hill Publishing Co. and First Book. It is the third year that Wayne County has been a recipient.
Linda Harrill, president of Community in Schools of North Carolina, said the books were given to children and families who otherwise could not afford to buy them.
"This is a great example of how Communities in Schools brings needed resources together through partnerships to help serve at-risk students across North Carolina," she said.
Mrs. Davis said that upon receiving the books, her staff divided the workbooks and hardbacks according to grade level.
"We were really pleased with the quality of the books," she said. "It was also nice to be able to give them to the children to take home and keep."
Books that were not handed out at the schools will be used as incentives for students in the truancy court program at three Wayne County schools, she said.