A GREAT, EASY AND EVERLASTING PROJECT IDEA!

LEGO Replay is a simple-to-use platform that allows you to pass forward your much-loved LEGO bricks and share the power of play with kids in need. When children play with your donated LEGO bricks, it helps them learn to problem solve, collaborate, and think creatively. With LEGO Replay, worlds of play can be rebuilt and reimagined many times over helping to inspire the builders of tomorrow.

Lego Replay collects used lego bricks, cleans them and distributes them to children in need (classrooms, community centers, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs etc.).

Lego kits do not need to be complete…pieces can be missing.

Children get a box with a variety of bricks and elements. The box also comes with an activity booklet with some great building activities to try out.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

1. Donations only include brick-based toys; i.e. no apparel, key chains, storage containers. 
2. All electronic components and batteries have been removed from the donation. 
3. The donation only includes LEGO® elements no packaging or building instructions. 
4. All bricks are separated from each other and are not interlocked

It’s so easy…

COLLECT THE BRICKS
BOX THEM
PRINT FREE SHIPPING LABEL
SHIP THE BOX VIA UPS GROUND

You may sign up on the Lego Replay website to get a free shipping label at www.lego.com/replay and once on the website Click on the tab READY TO DONATE? and complete the steps to get the FREE mailing label.

What can Kiwanis clubs do?

Have a Lego brick collection drive in your community. Once collected spend a club meeting or two separating the Lego bricks. Separate anything not acceptable for shipping. Then box them, print a free shipping label and ship (you may want to include a letter in the box from your Kiwanis club indicating your club project). I think this is one of the best projects clubs can do because it’s easy, fun, donating to children in need and ITS FREE!

I’m hoping we can have a Lego collection project with  Kiwanians at our next District Convention in Springfield, MA. AUGUST 2024. I’ll keep y’all posted!

Ava Adams, District Chair
Committee for Young Children

The Importance of play in early childhood

Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.  Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children.

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development.

Play is an essential and critical part of all children’s development. Play starts in the child’s infancy and ideally, continues throughout his or her life. Play is how children learn to socialize, to think, to solve problems, to mature and most importantly, to have  fun. Play connects children with their imagination, their environment, their parents and family and the world.

Play supports the development of self-control which is critical for success later in life. Children play because they have a deep desire to understand the world. Play allows opportunities for them to regulate their feelings, delay gratification, and negotiate with others, all important aspects of developing self-control.

WHAT CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?

1. Build or renovate/update a playground in your community park or at a local school.

      Kiwanis international has a partnership with      LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC. which   has been creating innovative playground equipment since 1971. Think of the impact your club could make in your community with a playground “build” as a signature project. Ask your members if giving children a place to play is the right project for your club. 

For information go to:

landscapearchitect.com

2. Provide educational games at your community center or donate them to teachers of preschool programs or kindergarten classrooms. 
3. Become at advocate for free, quality preschool education in your community.

Every child deserves quality preschool opportunities for maximum  brain development enabling them eventually to become successful functioning  adults in society.

For more information on the importance of play in early childhood go to:

Importance of Play in Early Childhood (9 Benefits & Infographic)

https://www.ndehs.udel.edu/play-in-early-

 NEXT MONTH I WILL HAVE A NEW PROJECT FOR YOU WHICH WILL PROMOTE PLAY, CREATIVITY, BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND FUN FOR CHILDREN.

Ava Adams, District Chair

Committee on Young Children

Scarborough Maine Kiwanis Club

New England and Bermuda District

email! [email protected]

Good Morning fellow Kiwanians!

Fact: Medical equipment, treatment and facilities designed for adults just don’t fit when treating an ill or injured child.

Fact: It costs around four times as much money to treat a child as it does to treat an adult with the same ailment.

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS AND KIWANIS….A STRONG PARTNERSHIP

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded with the sole purpose to help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals and keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, and John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake.

Kiwanis International was the first association based sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, joining the charity as a partner in 1982. Key Club and the many other arms of Kiwanis joined later on as they became recognized programs of Kiwanis.

In 1997, Key Club made Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals an official charity of choice for their members to support. Kiwanis-raised funds have enabled the networks’ 170 member hospitals to provide medical care, research, and education to benefit children. Since 1983 Kiwanis has donated more than $25 million to CMN hospitals. CMN hospitals train 60% of pediatricians and 80% of all pediatric specialists.

HOW CMN HOSPITALS WORK?

To provide the best care for kids, children’s hospitals rely on donations and community support, as Medicaid and insurance programs do not fully cover the cost of care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has helped fill those funding gaps by raising more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through Miracle Balloon icon campaigns. Its various

fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

EVERY DAY CMN HOSPITALS TREAT:

        Kids with Trauma 16,200

        Kids with Diabetes 935

        Kids with Cancer 2,128

        Kids for Surgeries 2329

        Babies with NICU 925

   DID YOU KNOW?

   •     62 Children enter a CMN Hospital every minute

   •     1 IN 10 Children in North America are treated by        a CMN Hospital each year

   •     32 MILLION Patients visits are provided for 10   million kids every year by CMN Hospitals

There are 6 CMN Hospitals in New England.

•     Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA. serves   eastern MA and eastern and southern New Hampshire

•     Baystate Children’s Hospital, Springfield, MA.

•     Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland,  ME. serving children and families from all over northern New England.

•    Vermont Children Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT.

•    Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT.

•    Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence RI.

How Can Kiwanis Clubs Help?

If your Club is located near a CMN Hospital, contact an administrator and ASK how your Kiwanis Club can help. Many volunteers are needed to help at the information desk etc.

Here is a brief description of the two main roles which are open to volunteer applicants.

Inpatient/Clinic Volunteers – Interact with patients, siblings and families at the bedside, in the playroom or waiting room area to provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate play and socialization which may include holding infants/toddler, engaging in art, reading and taking part in structured activities with patients.  Additionally, the volunteer would assist their supervisor with any other needs, such as unit programming, preparing materials for special events and helping organize and maintain a safe, clean environment while assisting with toy washing.

Customer Service Volunteers – Create welcoming atmosphere at main entrance of hospital and provide way finding assistance to all patients, families and guests.  Assist patients and families at time of discharge from the hospital.  Additionally, customer service volunteers engage with patients and siblings through play-based activities in the Hale Family Center for Families.

Volunteers are allowed to play with children or to complete non-medical               tasks. 

    Fundraising ideas:

          1) Organize a “Miracle Mile of Quarters” fundraiser

          2) Organize “Duck Races” with your Key Club

          3) Sell “Miracle Balloons”

          4) Organize a Blood Drive/give blood.

For more information go to:

childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org

Ava Adams, District Chair

Young children Committee

Scarborough, ME, Kiwanis

New England and Bermuda  District

email: [email protected]

Good morning fellow Kiwanians!

DROWNING PREVENTION

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury/death among children between 1 and 4 years of age, with almost 400 cases reported in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the US, an average of 3,500 to 4,000 people drown per year. That is an average of 10 fatal drownings per day.

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children. Young children aren’t the only ones affected. Overall, it ranks fifth for unintentional injury/death in the United States. More than 50 percent of drowning victims who are treated at emergency departments require extended hospitalization or long-term care.

WHAT CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?

Sponsor a Life Jacket Loaner Station.

The sign above the station indicates that “Kids Don’t Float, Give Them Something That Does.” An additional sign lists the donors of the station. 

This program began in 1997 in Alaska to reduce the number of drownings on boats. It has expanded to beaches, lakes and anywhere where families and children gather near the water. Families borrow a life jacket, use it, and put it back when done. The station costs approximately $1,500 unless donations are received to reduce the cost. Many of these stations have lumber donated by Lowe’s or Home Depot with private builders donating their labor. Some of the stations have been built by the parks and recreation departments of the county. West Marine gives a deep discount on the life jackets, costing approximately $25 per jacket with 20 jackets per station. Life jackets need to be checked on a regular basis for wear and tear, and need to be replaced often if in the hot sun.

Kids life jacket are available in three sizes…infant(0-30 lb.), child (30-50lb.), and youth (50-90 lb.) at West Marine.

https://www.westmarine.com/stores/portland-me-84

Or at Amazon Prime. 

The Scarborough, Maine Kiwanis Club was fortunate to have the life jackets donated by a local business.

The Club has placed a Life Jacket Loaner Station near a boat ramp at a local beach. The Town of Scarborough bears liability insurance while the Club checks on the station weekly to keep it in neat order.

This project is popular in Florida, especially in Collier County. To learn more about Collier County’s life jacket loaner stations, go to:

https://watersmartcollier.com/lifejacket-loaner-program

This new project provides an excellent opportunity for your Kiwanis Club to apply for a Kiwanis Foundation of New England (KFNE) grant for up to $1000. This is a new and innovative project. You can find the application at www.kfne.org. You must complete  the cover page and the specific questions as indicated in the application.

I hope you agree that this is a valuable and relatively easy project to complete. For a small investment many lives may be saved.

Ava Adams, District Chair

Committee on Young Children

New England and Bermuda District

Scarborough Mine Kiwanis

Email: [email protected]

Every day about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury/death in the United States.

• From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.
• About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
• More than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency departments (EDs) require hospitalization or transfer for further care (compared with a hospitalization rate of about 6% for all unintentional injuries). These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state).

10 REASONS WHY EVERY CHILD (in the U.S. and the global community)SHOULD LEARN TO SWIM

1. As a part of the recreational sports spectrum, the ability to swim is a basic right for all citizens.
2. During their grade school careers, our school systems provide each student the opportunity to learn various forms of sport; no other sport can save a person’s life throughout their entire life.
3. The time to learn to swim is early in each person’s life since child drowning is an ever-present threat.  Bodies of water are literally everywhere so this life-skill is a necessity, just like wearing seat belts while traveling in a car!
4. Throughout every person’s life, there will be frequent occasions where water in some form will be nearby.  Accidents of this type happen daily.  Swimming is a life-skill that once learned, is never forgotten.
5. Giving children this basic life skill is a responsibility, not an option.
6. Finding age-appropriate swim lessons for your child does not make your child “drown-proof”
7. The only secure way of minimizing accidental drownings in the 0-4 age group is by preventative measures, not mechanical devices or barriers which can provide a false sense of security.
8. It would be rare for an accidental drowning to occur when the child or adult -already knows how to swim and has competent water safety knowledge.
9. Aquatic exercise for people of all ages and abilities generally is not an option unless the person has basic swim skills.
10. Swimming is a fun, healthy form of exercise and is a family-style form of sharing happiness together!

DEFINITION OF SWIMMING:  “To be as comfortable and to move as easily in water as on land.  No child deserves to drown or be harmed because they do not have access to basic water safety and swim lessons

Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4. Drowning deaths/accidents are 100% preventable. 

During the month of May, National Water Safety Month, and throughout the year, Kiwanis clubs can help reduce this number of drownings  in many ways:

 Supervision – Create water watcher tags, and hand them out to your members, families, and friends reminding them to never take their eyes off children in or around water.

Water Competency – Fund swimming lessons for children in your community – set up swim scholarships at swim schools, YMCAs,  and public pools to help families who cannot afford swim lessons.

Life Jackets – Sponsor a life jacket loaner station at lakes and beaches. Children should only wear Coast Guard approved life jackets when near the water.

Barriers and Alarms – Purchase door alarms  leading to pool areas and distribute them throughout your community. You can attend festivals, farmers’ markets, and pool decks to distribute them. Child barrier fences are more expensive, but a scholarship could be set up with a pool fence company to reduce the cost.

I hope this information is helpful, and I encourage you to help promote swim lessons and safety precautions in your community. Remember: drowning/water accidents are 100% preventable!

Ava Adams, District Chair

You g Children Committee

New England and Bermuda District

Scarborough Kiwanis Club

email: [email protected]

MORE NEWS ON THE OUTREACH MEAL PACKING PROJECT

Have workers but don’t have a venue to hold the event? You can go to the Outreach warehouse in Pembroke MA. to pack the meals and then deliver the packed cartons to YOUR local food pantry.  

Contact 

Matthew Martin is the Regional Manager and New England Coordinator for the Outreach Program.

Cell: 857-939-3459

email: [email protected]

for more information: visit The New England. Outreach Program.  https://www.endhungerne.org/

 You need to contact Matthew Martin for dates available at the warehouse and the cost if working at the warehouse.

A SIMPLE PROJECT WITH HUGE EFFECTS!

Every day seven people die in home fires, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms. Sadly, children and the elderly disproportionately lose their lives. 

One-third of the smoke detectors installed in houses don’t work. If a fire occurs, they won’t make a sound, because most smoke alarms still contain their original batteries. A simple project can solve this problem: an annual campaign for everyone to check the batteries in their smoke detectors. This can involve ads in the local paper or distribution of fliers. This campaign can be expanded to include distribution of batteries and smoke detectors in neighborhoods. DO YOU KNOW BATTERIES ARE AVAILABLE WITH A 10 YEAR LIFE SPAN? 

The American Red Cross offers a FREE Program …installation of smoke detectors (free) in  a home, will check batteries in existing smoke detectors, replace batteries if needed, and help families create an escape plan.

For more information go to:

redcross.org

Ava Adams, District Chair

Committee on Young Children

email; [email protected]

Looking for a new service project idea?

Sponsor a BUDDY BENCH!

A Buddy Bench is usually placed at a school playground.

Why have a Buddy Bench?

Children today are dealing with isolation, loneliness and unhappy experiences on social media. Bullying persists on social media and many children suffer from  depression. Providing a Buddy Bench encourages children to interact, to be social, to play and to be compassionate and kind to each other.

How does the Buddy Bench work?

If a child is sitting on the bench …the child is looking for a friend. When someone asks the child to play,  he join them, and always remembers to glance over at the school’s Buddy Bench to invite new friends to join in on the fun

If a child is not sitting on the bench …the child asks a classmate on the buddy bench to play, and make a new friend today!  The child Keeps growing a circle of friends until everyone has someone to play with.

4 REASONS TO SIT ON A BUDDY BENCH

1. If a child is new to the school.
2. If a child wants to make a new friend.
3. If his/her friends aren’t at school today.
4. If a child wants to play something different 

from what his/her friends are playing.

MAKE BUDDIES NOT BULLIES

Every seven minutes a child is bullied according to an estimate by the U.S. Department of Justice. Promote inclusion. Give students a safe space to eliminate loneliness and foster friendships.

If you are interested in a Buddy Bench for your playground, check out the engraved recycled plastic benches or the laser cut plastic-coated steel bench. These benches are designed to last 50 years.

Benches are engraved with your specific message,I.e. Kiwanis Club of city/town or can be In Memory of..

Check out the websites below for more information.

https://www.thebenchfactory.com/buddy-bench-benefits

https://pollyproducts.com/product-category/buddy-benches/

If you want to place a Buddy Bench at a school, you will need to contact the Department of Public Works and/or the School Department.  Buddy Benches are shipped by UPS and need to be assembled. Directions for assembly etc. can be found online.

Ava Adams,  District Chair

 Young Children  Committee 

Scarborough Maine Kiwanis Club

New England and Bermuda District of Kiwanis

email: [email protected]

6 Steps Needed to Complete A Meal Packing Project:

1. Have $3500 in funds(minimum) to pay for the meals($2000 May be provided through a KFNE Grant)
2. Identify a venue where you can have the meal packing
3. Identify 35-40 propel to do the meal packing
4. Contact Matthew Martin to arrange a mutually convenient date
5. On the day of the meal packing show up and have a fun time packing the meal
6. Distribute the cartons to your community

Great News from KFNE!

The Kiwanis Foundation of New England Board of Directors has approved grant money specifically to support the Outreach  meal packing program. Each Division may apply for up to $2000 to complete a meal packing event. The Division must have a minimum of 2 clubs participating and must raise $1500 or more towards the project. Each Division may only apply once annually for a grant.

The grant application can be found at kfne.org and can be submitted to [email protected]. All questions must be completed on the application.

Below is specific information concerning food insecurity in New England and the meal packing project with  the Outreach Program with  contact information.

What happens when a child is hungry?

 Kids who don’t get enough to eat — especially during their first three years — begin life at a serious disadvantage. Hunger hinders brain development. The brain develops rapidly from conception to age 5. Without the right nutrients, the brain cannot develop properly, resulting in long term effects on learning abilities.When they are hungry, children are more likely to be hospitalized and they face higher risks of health conditions like anemia and asthma. And as they grow up, kids struggling to get enough to eat are more likely to have problems in school and other social situations.

Children facing hunger may struggle in school — and beyond. They are more likely to:

•  Repeat a grade in elementary school

•  Experience developmental impairments in areas like language and motor skills

•  Have more social and behavioral problems.

•  Hunger has been observed to cause depression, anxiety and withdrawal, all of which are obstructions to a child trying to focus on education.

(Feedingamerica.org)

I would like to share with you the most recent information on Food Insecurity the U.S.and New England.

FOOD INSECURITY

(the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food every day)

Statistics:

1 out of 6 Americans are food insecure

1 out of 4 American children suffer from hunger and food insecurity

feedingamerica.org

I hope you will consider doing more projects to help fight food inadequacies in your communities. Support your local food pantries, backpack food programs, organize a food collection, and most importantly, support programs which supply food to children during school vacations and during the summer when food pantries are at their lowest supplies. HUNGER NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY!

Finally, have you considered holding a meal packing event? This is a great Division Project. Outreach, Inc, offers 10 different meals: tomato basil pasta, apple cinnamon oatmeal, minestrone soup, cheesy rice, Spanish rice, raisin cinnamon oatmeal, apple cinnamon rice, raisin cinnamon rice, Mac and cheese, and rice and beans.

Each serving contains a fortified protein supplement making it more nutritious than store bought packaged food.

Each serving costs $.35 or $2.10 for a packet feeding 6. Meals are assembled on a line with 10 people working on each line. 36 meal packets fill a carton which costs $75.60.  Minimally $3500 must be ordered for the activity. Matthew Martin is the Regional Manager and New England Coordinator for the Outreach Program.

Cell: 857-939-3459

email: [email protected]

for more information: visit The New England. Outreach Program

https://www.endhungerne.org/

The Portland Kiwanis Club hosted a meal packing event for Kiwanis One Day on Oct. 27, 2018 held at a local church. I was fortunate to be able to participate.

Over 17,000 servings of apple cinnamon oatmeal were packaged in about 2 hours with much laughter and enthusiasm. The cartons were delivered to local food pantries in the greater Portland area. All participates left with a smile knowing that hungry families would be receiving nutritious food because of our efforts! I hope you will consider organizing a meal packing project!  

 Have workers but don’t have a venue to hold the event? You can go to the Outreach warehouse in Pembroke MA. to pack the meals and then deliver the packed cartons to YOUR local food pantry.

KIWANIS ONE DAY IS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023 . Consider having a meal packing event and include the SLPs to help. This can be a great Kiwanis family fun day! 

If you have concerns or questions, please contact me. And if you do arrange a food assembly project, please invite me. I would love to participate!

Ava Adams, District Chair

Committee on Young Children

Naw England and Bermuda District

LOOKING FOR A HANDS-ON SERVICE PROJECT?

EARLY CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION KITS (available from Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute, KPTI), include Bath Safety Duck to test water temperature, Car seat information sticker,  Car seat and seat belt information card, Shaken baby information card, “Keeping the Promise” window safety brochure, Burn prevention brochure, Home safety checklist booklet, Electric outlet covers(24 pk)

These materials are available to ALL Kiwanis Clubs and need to be put together in a plastic bag which is also included with the materials. Then the Kits need to be delivered. Possible distribution to: Day Care Centers, Day Care Homes, Mother’s Groups,  Hospitals with Birthing Centers, Health Clinics,  Pediatricians’ offices, Obstetricians’ offices or any facility that provides prenatal classes or care  for expectant mothers. This is a perfect project for ALL Clubs…large or small! I encourage your Club to complete this project which can save lives and prevent traumatic injuries to infants and toddlers.

EACH CLUB IS ALLOWED 200 KITS ANNUALLY FOR DISTRIBUTION.

For more information:

go to kpti.org and click on Community Programs tab (order form available)

MY KIWANIS MOMENT

I visited my doctor in July 2020, and she told me she was pregnant with her first child. She and her husband were obviously excited. They knew the baby would be a girl expected in February. About a month later I had a follow up appointment, and I brought her an Early Childhood Injury Prevention Kit. She was grateful for the information especially the water sensitive duck.

I saw her again this past May and asked how she and her baby, Piper, were doing. Of course she had to show me pictures and a video of the adorable baby. As I was leaving she said to me; “You know, I think of you every day when I give Piper a bath, and I put that duck in her bath water to test the temperature!” I was speechless. And she made my day! We never know how many

lives we touch when we complete service projects or do an act of kindness. But we definitely do. Kiwanians do make a difference in this world.

Good Morning Fellow Kiwanians!

UPDATE READING CORNERS

ITS’S NOT TOO LATE TO ESTABLISH A READING CORNER! A PERFECT FIT WITH KIWANIS’ YOUNG CHILDREN PROGRAM

Consider establishing a Reading Corner in other venues in addition to laundromats

SOME POSSIBLE VENUES

Health care facilities

Barbershops

Hair salons

Urgent care facilities

Credit unions

Pediatricians offices

Family court waiting areas

Emergency room waiting area at hospitals

I encourage you to establish a Reading Corner in a venue in your community. The Reading Corner set up is a relatively low cost project ($200 or less) and can have a huge impact for local families and young children. Once set up you may find that your local library will supply your Club with gently used books, or Club member and friends can be asked to donate gently used books to replenish the supply of books. What better way to change a child’s life…to promote literacy and the love and joy of reading!

Let us fuel high expectations in young children. Children are influenced by expectations….high or low! Reading corners allow the use of valuable time to encourage young children to read and learn which results in maximum brain development and high expectations for that child.

We all share the responsibility of children leaning and learning happens everywhere and all the time! A book can become a friend to a child and the friend is always there.

IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE CONTACTING THE LAUNDROMAT

You can get ownership information about a local laundromat at your TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE in order to communicate with the laundromat owner,

WHY ESTABLISH A READING CORNERS IN A LAUNDROMAT OR OTHER VENUE?

1. Almost 60% of children entering kindergarten are not prepared. They don’t recognize letters, numbers and colors. This number is increasing with the COV-19 pandemic and the closure of preschool facilities and childcare programs.
2.  Parents spend time with their young children doing necessary chores at these venues.This time provides a wonderful opportunity for children and parent to spend quality time reading with appropriate books for young children to enjoy.
3. The interaction at laundromats or other venues can promote not only basic literacy but also early math and science concepts that build different parts of the brain and complementary skill sets. Creating simple but attractive reading corners can help make the best use of these ordinary parts of the day to build both parental bonds and children’s skills.
4. These reading corners are also attractive for venues because they set them apart from other competitors, offer a resource for customers, demonstrate their involvement in the community and engage children in productive activities.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Each corner would consist of an attractive book holder; a rug that promotes letters, numbers and geometric shapes (if space allows); and books that parents can use in the moment.  Books can be provided in various languages to meet the needs of the community. 

Kiwanis Clubs need to contact the laundromat owner personally and encourage them to participate.  

 I strongly urge you not to order supplies before the laundromat/venue has agreed. Kiwanis members are responsible for the costs of all supplies, including set-up and ongoing replenishment of this book holder (2’ x 1’, about $30) and, if space allows, this rug (5’ x 6 1/2’ – optional if space is tight, about $55).  Both are available on Amazon.com.

Books need to be replenished if children take the books home. It’s ok if the books are not returned. Some children may not have books at home to read. Ownership of books is the first step to encourage the love and joy of reading!

You can get inexpensive new books several ways.  One of these is through www.FirstBook.org.  This organization sells new, quality books at very low cost – ordinarily you would need to be approved as an organization that serves disadvantaged children.

 Other options recommended by other Kiwanis members are companies such as Reading Warehouse or Books-a-Million or Scholastic Literacy. 

A month’s supply of books can cost from $0 to about $50.  Books must not have religious, political or controversial themes, should include math/science topics, and should feature diverse characters in terms of race, ethnicity, physical ability, etc. Sponsors can also get used books through donations from employees or civic groups, as well as purchased at thrift stores, libraries, etc.  The venue owner and Kiwanis are responsible for any liability coverage or issues.

Please contact me if you have questions, or if I can assist you in any way!

Sincerely,

Ava Adams, District Chair

Committee on Young Children

New England and Bermuda District

email; [email protected]