The United Way of the Plains recruited local women and Dolly Parton’s imagination to deliver materials to students in Southern Kansas
The challenge
Trained educators have access to resources and industry knowledge to help students learn how to read. But parents are expected to continue education at home, often without resources and usually without educational theory in their back pockets. The United Way of the Plains recruited the help of passionate women to change that dynamic in Southern Kansas.
The solution
Image provided by United Way of the Plains
We know that children living in poverty have access to significantly fewer age-appropriate reading materials than their peers who do not live in poverty. Providing reading materials can open an entirely new world of possibility for students. With this knowledge in tow, the United Way of the Plains recruited the help of Women United volunteers to deliver books to in-need families. The funding to purchase these materials was raised through #Fight4Literacy events with Wichita State University and an investment from International Paper.
But if children can’t read, access to books can only help so much. Empowering caregivers and affirming their role in literacy education can help adults feel more confident in their reading time with children. The United Women volunteers also delivered supplemental education materials for guardians, which provided information on how to help students gain valuable reading lessons as they worked through the books together. Tools to help parents teach reading competencies can build a strong school-to-home pipeline which benefits students in the classroom and can have positive impacts on interpersonal relationships. The resources also encourage caregivers to continue the practice of reading during summer months and breaks from school, which can help prevent learning loss.
To keep materials fresh, United Way of the Plains connected with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an organization that delivers developmentally appropriate books to children through the mail. With the tools to help guardians process the books and regularly refreshed materials, students in Southern Kansas were able to make major literacy gains!
The testimony
In the last year, Coaching for Literacy helped United Way of the Plains deliver more than 5,000 books to nearly 1,200 students. The collective impact of this work is one that will be felt in the greater Wichita community for decades to come.
Image provided by United Way of the Plains
While they’ve seen gains in the last year, United Way of the Plains knows that the #Fight4Literacy requires continual investment. Pete Najera, United Way of the Plains CEO and president, said it best: “We know that reading is the cornerstone of all learning and it’s critical for children in [early elementary school] to practice reading every day. We fight for every child to reach their potential and growing strong readers is an investment in the future of these children, their families and our community.”
You can #Fight4Literacy.
Illiteracy impacts every community – it is critical that we all join together to help children locally and around the country. Consider donating to Coaching for Literacy or participating in an upcoming #Fight4Literacy Game. Share this message with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, and follow Coaching for Literacy for information about upcoming events and the fight against illiteracy. We look forward to having you on our team.
