The NWT Literacy Council wants to enrol every child in the territory aged 5 and under in the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. To do this, they need $10,000.
The council has organized two events set to take place on Saturday, June 13 to raise money. Yellowknifers can participate in a Bike for Books bicycle ride and Fort Simpson residents can participate in the Run for Reading.
“Books in the home change people’s reading habits,” said Rachel Vander Veen, project specialist with the literacy council, adding that emergent literacy skills increase when children have access to books.
“We want that for all children in the NWT.”
The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free age-appropriate books every month to those enrolled in the program.
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Funds raised from the two upcoming NWT events will also support the literacy council’s Bison Bus, which it plans to use to bring books to communities across the territory this summer.
Bike for Books is a partnership with Shift NWT and will begin at Yellowknife’s fieldhouse at 10am. The ride will include a stop at École Įtłʼǫ̀ for those who would prefer a shorter cruise and will finish at Somba K’e Park at 11am.
A second ride is available for those who may feel more comfortable sticking to trails. It also begins at 10am and will start and end at the Somba K’e Park playground.
Those who may not want to bike are welcome to walk, run or rollerskate the route, Vander Veen said.
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A barbecue, prize draw for fundraisers and other activities will follow at the park, where the literacy council’s Bison Bus will be parked.
The Run for Reading event was organized in partnership with the Fort Simpson Run Club. The run will follow a 2.5 kilometre route beginning at the teepee at 10:30am.
The run will finish at the Fort Simpson Recreation Centre where a barbecue will be held.
