The Summer Literacy Program at West End UMC was highly successful. A team of dedicated adult volunteers, including several retired educators, worked with a large group of young children at the church on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from mid-June to mid-August. Dr. Erin West, a local elementary school principal, did a remarkable job in organizing the program, developing the curriculum, leading the children, and communicating with parents.
There was a theme each week and a therapy dog, Remy, visited from time to time for the children to read to him. The children chose a book the prior session in preparation and then had fun reading to Remy. The theme the week I visited the program was gardening, and it was a joy for me to meet the volunteers who were teaching the children about raising their own food, planting, caring for, and harvesting fresh vegetables, and learning about creation care through their reading and hands-on experiences.
Thank you to Rev. Leechford and the many community volunteers who made reading and learning fun for so many children throughout the summer. They were, indeed, the hands and feet of Christ in their community.
Written by David Rockefeller, C4C Director.