Pictured from left are Dyann Nashton, LCMC coordinator; Jacqueline Alex, Boliver Road library media specialist; Melissa Biviano, Boliver Road third grade teacher; Michele Ryan, Oneida Public Library executive director; and Eric Faisst, Madison County director of public health. Ryan and Faisst are members of the managing partners of LCMC.

Boliver Road Elementary School has received a $2,500 grant for its Literacy Community Connections program. The program uses a three-pronged approach to building literacy in Chittenango and the surrounding community.

The program seeks to bring reading to families who may not have the ability to go to the public library due to transportation or other factors. Two weatherproof community book boxes will be created and placed in locations where adults and children can take a book to read.

In addition, teachers will be visiting three different locations in the community every other week next summer to read to children and provide books and snacks.

Lastly, book totes will be distributed to children at the Sullivan Food Cupboard when their families pick up food. The totes will contain books, ideas on how parents can help their children read and information on healthy snacks and exercise. Organizers will also distribute community resource pamphlets through these programs to promote literacy and provide information and resources to recipients.

Boliver Road Elementary is one of four local groups in Madison County that were awarded program grants recently for their literacy efforts. The grants were distributed by the Literacy Coalition of Madison County, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving literacy in the county.

An upcoming Coalition event is being planned for the Spring. Community agencies and organizations are encouraged to attend to find out how they can be a part of the Coalition’s activities and promote literacy. The Coalition facilitates literacy improvement in the county through collaboration with the many dedicated businesses, schools, libraries and agencies who serve the needs of our area.

Coordinator Dyann Nashton reported that the Literacy Coalition of Madison County offers Madison County Reads Ahead, a free one-on-one tutoring program to help adults get their high school equivalency diplomas. The Coalition also facilitates the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, offered through partner libraries and a few school libraries.

The Coalition, which is supported in large part by the Central New York Community Foundation, is placing a special focus this year on financial and digital literacy for adults as well as kindergarten readiness.

By martha

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