CEF donates books to young readers

Pictured are (front row, left to right) Katie Gumpher, Timothy Hambright, Kathryn Page, Sawyer Belknap, Kameron McGurrin, CharLee Weaver and Isaac Harnish; (back, l-r) Mrs. Denise Logue, director of reading, Cocalico School District and Mrs. Charlotte Brady, director, Cocalico Care Center.

The Cocalico Education Foundation (CEF) has expanded its support of early literacy efforts through its Books to Grow On program. The expansion of this early literacy initiative would not be possible without a very generous annual donation of $2,500 made each year by the same donor, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Since 2006, the program has provided brand-new books to 4-year-olds in the district. Because of the yearly anonymous donation as well as additional gifts and profits from Iron Chef Cocalico, the program was able to expand in 2009 to include 3-year-olds and again in 2012 to include 1- and 2-year-olds. Throughout the past seven years, over 4,000 books have been given to children to share with their family and friends. Some of the book titles given include "Eating the Alphabet;" "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom;" "I’m Your Bus;" "Alphabet Adventure;" "Llama, Llama, Red Pajama;" and "Alphabet Mystery." Pictured are just some of the many children in the Cocalico community who are enjoying new books, thanks to the CEF and its generous benefactors.

This past year, early literacy efforts grew again to include the new program Books for Babies. This initiative is a joint effort between the CEF and the Ephrata Area Education Foundation and provides books and educational materials to parents of newborns in area hospitals. To date, this initiative has given more than 600 books to the Ephrata Community Hospital for their new mothers.

The Cocalico Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization managed by a board of trustees, which includes local school and civic leaders. For more information, please call 336-1413.