Reading Rotary just completed its Rotary Readers Literacy Project. Rotary Readers is an annual literacy project where reading books and a backpack are given to kindergarten students. This year the Rotary Club brought the project to all kindergarten classes in Reading and North Reading. This year over 400 literacy bags and over 800 reading books were distributed to eight elementary schools in Reading and North Reading. In addition, Rotarians read to each Kindergarten class as part of Read Across America.
This literacy project has been adapted from Rotary’s previous dictionary and thesaurus giveaways. Teachers expressed their preference to have the younger students receive reading books. Basic Education and Literacy is one of Rotary International's Seven Areas of Focus.
Rotary would like to offer a special thank you to Liz Whitelam and Whitelam Books for supplying these books at a generous discount.
Austin Prep’s Interact Club (Rotary sponsored service club for high schoolers) was integral in helping with this project, including stuffing the backpacks and reading to many classrooms. Rotary sponsors Interact Clubs at Austin Prep, Reading High School and North Reading High School.
Rotary is an international service organization of volunteers who focus on creating a positive impact in our community, our country and throughout the world. Locally, Reading Rotary strives to help those who are in need, provide support to young people to reach new heights and support organizations who are also doing great work in supporting others.
Reading Rotary has also been a friend of community organizations like the Reading Food Pantry, Burbank YMCA, Reading Public Library, Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support, Creative Arts and Austin Prep. Rotary has been a strong supporter for education in our community by providing resources to the Reading Education Foundation, the Reading Scholarship Foundation and giving trees to our Grade 5 students for Arbor Day.
But Rotary is more than just donating funds to these worthwhile organizations; it is about providing service to our community and to our region. Each month, our Rotarians go to the Boston Food Bank for the Reading Food Pantry to secure food that supports Reading families. Our club is involved in the Adopt a Family program during the holiday seasons. In addition, we have raised funds for eradicating polio in our world by swimming in the icy waters of the Atlantic during the annual Polar Plunge. Rotary runs the Reading Fall Street Faire and the Snack Shack at RMHS.
Reading Rotary meets the first Monday of the month for lunch at Bertucci’s and the third Monday for dinner at Austin Prep. See our calendar for specifics. Reading Rotary is always looking for new members and volunteers to help with its many service projects. Guests are invited join in and find out more about Rotary.
