GALLERY: Grant allows CCCPC to donate funds for children literacy efforts
Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Tabitha Samuel of Andalusia Head Start, center, receives a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short, left, and Trippy McGuire, right. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Threasa Martin and Caryl Lee Ray receive a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short and Trippy McGuire. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Jennifer Sellers of Covington County DHR receives a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short and Trippy McGuire. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Nikki Guilford of the Covington County School System receives a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short and Trippy McGuire. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Lynda Christian of the Florala Head Start receives a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short and Trippy McGuire. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Sherry Simpson of the Florala Public Library receives a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short and Trippy McGuire. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Tabitha Samuel and Lynda Christian accept a donation on behalf of the Opp Head Start program. Not pictured among the donation recipients is Laura Wilkinson of the Parents as Teachers Program. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
Courtney Smart of the Opp Public Library receives a donation from Covington County Children’s Policy Council Executive Director Susan Short and Trippy McGuire. (PHOTO BY ROBERT BLANKENSHIP)
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Organizations involved in education and early childhood development received a financial boost last week when the Covington County Children’s Policy Council presented donations courtesy of a grant award.
The CCCPC applied for and was awarded a Technical Assistance Grant offered under the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education for the purpose of engaging young children in reading.
“Early childhood literacy is a big topic across our state and we are working to get more books in the hands of children, particularly those birth to 5-years so they can have a positive start on the road to reading. Studies have shown that children who perform poorly at school have few to no books at home. We’re trying to change that for the children who live in Covington County,” said CCCPC Executive Director Susan Short.
Through the grant, the CCCPC is utilizing the county’s three public libraries’ mother-child reading times to provide free books.
“There will be opportunities for those attending the readings to receive three books that they can take home and keep,” Short said.
Books will also be available for free through other means, including book boxes available in some locations, including Florala.
Another group receiving funds is Parents as Teachers, which focuses on children ages birth to 6. The organization’s director, Laura Wilkinson, makes home visits with children who need assistance. With the funds she will provide books to kids, including bilingual books that are difficult to find locally.
DHR also received funds to provide books for children.
The CCCPC will also use funds to purchase books that will be made available for free to organizations such as Sav-A-Life’s baby’s closet.
“The purpose of this grant in our county is to promote literacy and early reading and help them be school-ready,” Short said.
The Children Policy Council, with offices in all 67 Alabama counties, is under the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.
Liletta Jenkins, state manager of Children’s Policy Council, spearheaded efforts for the grant with Short applying for funds locally.
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