The University of South Alabama pediatric clinics recently received 409 books collected by second-grade students at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile.
Laura Hassell, a parent of a second-grade student at St. Paul’s and the second-grade level representative, said the classes started philanthropy projects about three years ago. Instead of the children bringing small gifts for one another at Christmas, each grade level would pick an organization or philanthropy to support.
“The second-grade students were recently introduced to the Reach Out and Read program,” Hassell said. “It was easy to explain to the kids and easy for them to be active participants. We introduced the idea in October, and the kids brought in books to their classroom during the first week of December.”
Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. USA has been participating in the Reach Out and Read program for more than five years.
Dr. LaDonna Crews, assistant professor of pediatrics at USA and parent of a second-grader at St. Paul's, said the school's project for the Reach Out and Read Program was a great success and hopes that it will be supported again next year.
