By Elizabeth Cook

elizabeth.cook@salisburypost.com

Generous donations have started coming in for the Impact Summer Reading Fund to boost literacy in local middle and high schools.

People have given more than $13,000 toward the $76,000 goal that was announced in Sunday’s Salisbury Post.

The purpose of the drive is to send every rising sixth- through 11th-grader in the Rowan-Salisbury Schools home with a book to read over the summer. Students get to choose the books from a pre-approved list that includes different topics and genres. During the summer, the schools will host book discussions, fun activities and book swaps for the students.

The Post is spearheading the Impact Summer Reading Fund because of our commitment to literacy. Improving student achievement in the public schools is a top priority for the community, and literacy is the key that unlocks the door.

No donation is too small, and all will be listed in the Post. The cost of the program is $7.12 per student. Gifts can come in any increment, and they may be given in memory or honor of someone special.

Large gifts are welcome, of course. Ralph Ketner, co-founder of Food Lion, has pledged $10,000 toward the drive.

Carol Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and husband Francis Koster were the first to adopt a school by writing a $469.92 check to provide books for students at Henderson School.

Other schools and the amount required to sponsor books for all the students are listed in an accompanying chart. Businesses that sponsor a school will receive recognition in each book and in the Post.

Elementary school students are not forgotten. They will receive books through a separate book drive the schools are conducting, Give Five, Read Five.

You can make a donation to Impact Summer Reading several ways, listed below. Please include a note indicating how you would like your donation listed in the paper:

• 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.

• To the Rowan-Salisbury School System, with “Impact Summer Reading” in the memo line. Please 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 located at 314 N. Ellis St, Salisbury or 110 S. Long St, East Spencer

• 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.

 

Previous total … $500

Ralph Ketner ……$10,000

David Post …. $1,000

David Post Family Foundation … $1,000

For Henderson School, from Carol Spalding and Francis Koster … $469.92

Brad Bost … $100

In memory of Donna Blackwell, our family’s first RSS teacher, and in honor of all the educators who touched our daughters’ lives, by E.D. and Elizabeth Cook … $100

Total to date .. $13,169.92