Newport Avenue Market and Melvin’s by Newport Avenue Market partnered with the Oregon early literacy nonprofit SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) to raise awareness about opportunities to volunteer with SMART in Central Oregon and raise funds to provide books for local kids to keep and build their personal libraries.
Customers at Newport Avenue Market and Melvin’s raised more than $3,600 from September 16-22, enough to provide kids participating in SMART with 1,270 books to keep. Access to books outside of the classroom is a critical component to early literacy, with research showing that children with access to 25 books at home will, on average, complete two more years of school than children from homes without any books at all.[1]
“We’re so grateful to Newport Avenue Market, Melvin’s, and their loyal customers for their commitment to early literacy,” says SMART Area Manager Jennifer Zardinejad. “We had great conversations with people in the community and signed up volunteers all week. With our programs starting up next week, we’re excited to start getting these books into the hands of our community’s youngest readers.”
SMART is currently seeking volunteers to read one-on-one for one hour a week with PreK through third-grade students during the 2018-19 school year. Focused on fostering a love of reading and learning in kids, SMART plans to serve more than 850 kids in Central Oregon this year. To learn more about SMART, or sign up to volunteer, visit www.getSMARToregon.org or call 541-797-7726.
About SMART® (Start Making A Reader Today)
SMART is a statewide nonprofit organization that envisions an Oregon where every child can read and is empowered to succeed. SMART engages community volunteers to read one-on-one with PreK through third-grade children, helping strengthen literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. Children in the program receive 14 new books throughout the school year to keep and read with their families. Since 1992, SMART has paired nearly 134,000 volunteers to read with 211,000 children, and has put 2.7 million books in the homes of the children we serve. Visit www.getSMARToregon.org or call 541-797-7726 to learn more.
