Mike Rohrer, Logan County Board of Health President, Judy Rader, Lincoln Woman's Club VP, Don Cavi, Logan County Public Health Administrator. Susan Rohrer, LWC President,
Wanda Rohlfs, LWC Education Chair

Local club makes reading easier by supplying books for young children

[December 18, 2019]   LINCOLN - The GFWC Lincoln Woman’s Club has initiated a literacy program with the goal of increasing the availability of books to young children. The club applied for and received a $200 literacy grant from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and Procter and Gamble in October.

The actual literacy program kicked off last September when LWC established a book distribution center for children at the Logan County Health Dept. Books were purchased and donated by the club to fill a display in the health department’s waiting room. Preschool and primary grade children visiting the department are encouraged to explore a selection of age appropriate books and then choose a book for themselves to take home and keep. The club replenishes the shelf every two weeks and in the last two months have provided over 100 books for area children.

A long-term goal is to expand the program to include middle school and junior high level readers and to open two additional distribution centers as funding becomes available.

In other components of the club’s literacy program, local Head Start children will each be receiving a Dr. Seuss book during the holidays as a gift from the club. Plans are also in place to expand a children’s library in a local day care.

The club is collecting gently used books for this literacy project. Members have donated books from home or have purchased and donated new books. A local elementary school also donated books for the program when they restructured the school library last summer. If anyone in the community would like more information or would like to contribute new or gently used children’s books for this literacy mission, you may contact 217-732-1709.

[Judy Rader]