HOISINGTON — Hoisington’s youngest children now have even more support to help them become early readers, and the kids have not only the community, but themselves to thank for it.
The campaign to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Hoisington was announced at a Hoisington Chamber of Commerce coffee hosted by USD 431 at the beginning of March. Two months later, with funding secured, the United Way of Central Kansas returned Thursday to thank the community and mark the beginning of Hoisington’s program.
Now, families living within Hoisington’s 67544 zip code can visit the Hoisington Public Library to enroll in the program that provides each child with one free, age-appropriate book every month until he or she is 6 years old. While they are there, librarians will issue library cards and enroll them in the summer reading program.
“Once they start reading, one book a month won’t be enough,” said Julie Bugner-Smith, director of United Way of Central Kansas. “The library is a very important part of the community, and that’s why we won’t sign up new families online. We want them to visit the library and become familiar with all the resources that are available to them.”
Literacy priority for community
Hoisington USD 431 Superintendent Bill Lowry, who is a United Way co-chair representing the city, got the fundraising initiative started with a student read-a-thon. Parents, friends and the public at large were encouraged to sponsor preschool through fourth-grade students as they racked up titles over a two week period. The goal was to raise in the neighborhood of $7,000, providing the first year’s funding plus a cushion to insure the program is a lasting one. Lowry anticipates the read-a-thon becoming an annual fundraiser, and emphasized the importance of reading with young children to get them off to a good start with their education.
He reminded coffee goers that the community is fortunate that the USD 431 Board of Education has made providing free preschool to all children 3 and 4 years old a priority.
“Our incoming kindergartners can read and write to some degree, and that’s very important to their success,” he said. He added that because education is evolving, today’s fifth and sixth graders are doing math and science at the level he was as a freshman. “If they cannot read at level, it’s very difficult for them to be successful. I’m very passionate about getting kids reading at a younger age.”
Hoisington chairs introduced
Smith said the program is in addition to the support the UWCK already provides to four Hoisington programs, so it required the community to go above and beyond with fundraising.
Smith will be stepping down from her position at the end of the week, so the kickoff was her last official act as director. She will step into the position of Pawnee County Hospital Foundation director later this month.
In the past year since Hoisington became a UWCK member, community members have helped to organize a successful Stuff-the-Bus campaign, a security system was provided to the Hoisington Historical Society’s museum, and key chairpersons have been recruited who will bring their special talents to the table. Debbie and Randy Deutsch will be co-chairs, joining Bill Lowry and Karen Van Brimmer, who continue to serve. Eric and Tiffany Schoendaler will be junior chairs.
