The Reading Promise Program is back after taking a COVID break.
The Orange Elks worked with our Community Partners to bring back this event. Forty Elks and thirty Community Partner volunteers descended upon the Orange Main Library to promote literacy for the Orange Unified School District (OUSD) Title 1 Schools. Nearly seven hundred students and their families attended the event. Each student received a gift from Orange GRIP (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership), a sticker from the Orange Police Department, a child ID card from NY Life Ins., crafts from Chapman University and the OUSD Early Learning Program. In addition, the children could get facepainting by Yadira, balloons by Brian, be entertained by one of four stage shows, and get their own library card. Crafts were provided from the Home Depot and the Elks Boy Scout troop 1475. Hot dogs, chips and water were made available by the Orange Kiwanis. Each student received a backpack with books and school supplies that were donated by the Orange Elks, the Orange Blossoms. and the Anaheim Moose Lodge. The Anaheim Moose Lodge also made a cash donation to the Reading Promise Program. An Orange Fire Department truck, Orvis the therapy dog with handler Sara Pelly and Elroy T. Elk were present.
Thank You to the Storytime Readers that included: former UN Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez,
Mayor Dan Slater,
OC Supervisor Don Wagner,
Chief Dan Adams,
Craig Coleman,
and Shaun Smith.
and Shaun Smith.
and Shaun Smith.
For many Orange Elks, this type of community program is one of the main reasons why we joined the Orange Elks Lodge.
Thanks to Mike Cash and Kim Le for the information and pictures!