SILVIS, Ill. — The Silvis Lions Club promotes literacy, and their biggest project focuses on children's literacy at George O'Barr Elementary School. The project provides books for students in both the first and second grades.
Stacy Holland works with the Silvis Lions Club and volunteers to read at the school.
“The Silvis Lions Club, their biggest project is this children's literacy project here for first and second graders, they get a book every other month, or a book every month, depending on how much we have raised for that year,” said Holland.
Abby McKay teaches second grade at the school and is the teacher coordinator for the children's literacy project. Holland noticed her drive and willingness to help her community within her first year teaching at George O'Barr.
“When we started this a few years ago, she just volunteered, and it was something that caught my eye, because there aren't, I feel like there's not a lot of people who volunteer," said Holland.
That's why Holland nominated McKay to receive the Pay It Forward award, sponsored by Ascentra Credit Union. McKay remains committed to her community through her work with the program.
“Some of these kids might not otherwise get books at home, and so it's awesome to be able to facilitate that and send home these books every month or every other month that they get to keep and love," said McKay.
McKay knows how significant reading and literacy are for students, especially building that love for books at a young age.
"If we're able to find books they like and they enjoy, and they get to keep and read at home, and basically just get them excited about reading. That's really important," said McKay.
The project hopes to expand the program back to a monthly book for each student in the first and second grades but throughout all grades at the school. To get more books, the Silvis Lions Club needs more funding.
"We used to be able to get the book for $2 per kid, now we are looking at $3-4 per book," said Mckay.
You can find out more ways to help and get involved on the Silvis Lions Facebook Page.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for his or her community? News 8 and Ascentra Credit Union would like to help you Pay it Forward to them. Click here to nominate someone you know.
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