The Rotary is collecting children and teen’s books to improve literacy.

“March is Rotary Literacy month and our club is collecting gently used and new books,infant to teen, to be given to local families through various community providers,”

stated Don Holt Rotary president. Rotary believes literacy is a basic skill that helps fight poverty, gain new skills and helps each other.

Prevent Child Abuse Pickens is one of the local service providers that will receive some of the donated books.

“Early school readiness begins the day a child is born and by teaching parents how to interact with their children is the best way to prevent child abuse and neglect,”

stated Margy Lohman, executive Director. Reading to children is one of the interventions done with families and having parents read to their children is one of the stated goals of the program.

“We do not have enough books to leave with each child but we take them on each home visit,”

added Lohman. Prevent Child Abuse believes each of their children would benefit from having their own book that they could revisit, have an adult read to them and increase their learning.

Jan Coleman is all smiles when she tells about visiting a three year old little boy that gets all excited when he sees her because she is going to read to him. He calls their time together homework.

“We invite the Pickens Community to help us improve literacy one child at a time by donating books,”

said Holt.

Collection boxes at located at Community Bank, North Georgia Bank, United Community Bank, Jasper Drugs, City Hall, County Administration offices and will continue through March 31. Monetary donations may be mailed to the Rotary Club of Jasper, P.O. Box 39, Jasper 30143.