Contributors to the Impact Summer Reading Fund mention memories of sharing books with special people.

Freelance writer Susan Shinn put it well when she made a donation in honor of her mother, Cora B. Shinn:

“Now, both of my parents are excellent writers, and both have encouraged my writing career over the years. But it was my mother who read everything from Dr. Seuss to ‘Little Women’ to me late into the night, no matter how tired she was. ‘Read with enthusiasm!’ I’d say.

“This quote will always remind me of my mother: ‘Richer than I you shall never be, for I had a mother who read to me.'”

Not everyone is so fortunate. Children from disadvantaged homes often grow up without having books or newspapers around the house. They enter kindergarten behind their peers in vocabulary and other skills and lose ground summer after summer when school is out.

The Post is spearheading the Impact Summer Reading Fund to help prevent middle and high school students from experiencing the “summer slide.”

The fund will enable every rising sixth- through 12th-grader in the Rowan Salisbury Schools to choose a book to own and read over the summer. The schools will host book discussion, related activities and book swaps for the students.

Our goal is $76,000, and so far we have $29,326.44. No gift is too small. The cost is $7.11 per student.

Because of the importance of this effort, we’re extending the drive past the original June 5 deadline, but please act soon.

Beginning total … $27,826.44

In honor of all those coordinating and assisting with the Impact Summer Reading Program, by Michael Bitzer & Andrea Anders … $100

For Salisbury High School, by Windsor & Kathy Eagle … $100

In honor of Robert Bloodworth and in memory of Bill Bloodworth, by Bob and Relena Talbert … $50

For Koontz School, by Charles and Gale Hellard … $100

In honor of my daughter, Michaela Patterson, who loves to read, from David Patterson … $100

In honor of Friends of the Rowan Public Library, from Deal Safrit and Sheila Brownlow … $400

In honor of my mother, Cora B. Shinn, by Susan Shinn … $25

In honor of our daughter, Dana Curry, a third-grade teacher at Cleveland Elementary School, from David & Barbara Setzer … $250

For Knox Middle School, from Mary Ann & David Nelson … $25

In memory of Jack F. Hodges, for East Rowan High School, from Bonnie B. Hodges … $50

In honor of all past, present and future teachers of Rowan-Salisbury School System, especially Kelly Lineberry, for West Rowan High School, from Ralph and Helen Brown … $200

 

 

How to give

• To the middle or high school of the donor’s choice. Checks should be made out to the school, with “Impact Summer Reading” in the memo line.

• By check, payable to the Rowan-Salisbury School System, with “Impact Summer Reading” in the memo line. You may designate the funds for a particular school; tributes and memorials are welcome. Mail to Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Attn: Tara Trexler, P.O. Box 2349, Salisbury, NC 28145-2349 or drop off at one of the school administrative sites.

• By credit card online at https://www.fftc.org/impact-summer-reading-program. Note that credit card companies take approximately a 3 percent fee out of each transaction.

• By transfer, for those who make their donations through Foundations for the Carolinas; please call Meg Dees at 704-224-8840.