Oak Ridge clubs award literacy grants

Ellen Smith
·3 min read

Altrusa International of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, sponsors of the annual Lunch 4 Literacy in Oak Ridge, recently announced the winners of the literacy grants funded by last year's luncheon. More than $27,000 was awarded for initiatives in Anderson and Roane counties to support literacy from early childhood through high school.

"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson. The author spoke at the Lunch 4 Literacy event in Oak Ridge on March 21, 2023.
"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson. The author spoke at the Lunch 4 Literacy event in Oak Ridge on March 21, 2023.

According to a news release, the winners and how how the grants will be used are:

  • ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties) is receiving funds to help finance ADFAC’s School Supply Program that distributes backpacks and school supplies to children who might not get these supplies without this program.

  • The Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence in Oak Ridge is receiving money for books for students, teachers, and parents, plus child-size soft furnishings for classrooms.

  • Both Glenwood Elementary School and the Boys and Girls Club of the Clinch Valley (Oak Ridge) were awarded grants to supply books for their book vending machines that entice children with books as rewards they can receive for good school attendance and other achievements.

  • The Boys and Girls Club of Anderson County was awarded funding for program resources for their “Rookie Readers” literacy skills program for kids in club programs at Lake City, Clinton, North Clinton, and South Clinton elementary schools.

  • The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is receiving a grant to help start a new “Charlie’s Storytime” reading program for pre-schoolers.

  • Two Clinton High School teachers were granted money to buy books for use in reading intervention and a new “Ethics in Science Fiction” English class that relates to the recent emphasis on STEM learning.

  • Clinton Middle School is receiving funds to buy graphic novels and other books for use in reading intervention.

  • The Early Learning Center at Emory Valley Center was awarded a grant to buy literacy play supplies for preschoolers.

  • Friends of Literacy is getting a grant toward books and “Literacy To Go” packs for Oak Ridge Preschool students to use during school breaks.

  • Grand Oaks Elementary School was awarded grants for an all-school Literacy Night for students and families and for literacy and music materials for the music classroom.

  • Lake City Middle School is receiving money to added to classroom libraries.

  • Four Oak Ridge schools (Robertsville Middle School and Willow Brook, Woodland, and Linden elementary schools) teamed up to receive a grant to help pay for an author visit by children’s author Raúl the Third.

  • The Roane Imagination Library was awarded funds to buy Dolly Parton Imagination Library starter books for the county health department, to send home with babies when they come in for early well child visits and get signed up for the free Imagination Library.

  • Willow Brook teachers will receive grants for Osmo learning system materials for use in kindergarten and for the Edmark reading program for intervention with students who have not yet mastered beginning reading. Also, the school library was awarded a grant to buy books from the popular “Elephant and Piggie” series that is effective in helping early readers.

These grants are financed by revenues from the annual Lunch 4 Literacy sponsored by the two clubs. This year’s Lunch 4 Literacy event was held March 21 at Oak Ridge High School, featuring speaker Kim Michele Richardson, author of "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" and "The Book Woman's Daughter."

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge clubs award literacy grants