Chatham Rotary funds book program

Cradle to Career objectives include early introduction to reading

The Rotary Club of Chatham has launched a free book giving program devoted to inspiring a love of reading in toddlers and babies in the Miramichi Region. The club launched the International Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a free book giving program, where each month enrolled children receive a high quality and age appropriate book in the mail, free of charge. Children receive books from birth to age five, a total of 60 books.

Rotarian Lucy McCray, lead for the program for the Rotary Club of Chatham, said the reason the club picked this program is because one the Rotary International's main goals is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy; and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program has demonstrated success in other communities across Canada in creating a lifelong love of reading, to prepare children for school and to inspire them to dream. Recent studies suggest participation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is positively and significantly associated with higher measures of early language and math development. McCray said, as a partner of Cradle to Career Miramichi, this is important in helping ensure every child is ready for kindergarten, a key outcome of Cradle to Career Miramichi. 

Adam Lordon, chairperson of Cradle to Career Miramichi thanked the Rotary Club of Chatham for launching this program which aligns with Cradle to Career Miramichi mandate.

"We know that no single organization alone can help prepare every child for success from birth to career. We all need to work together and play a role and the Rotary Club of Chatham has stepped up in a huge way. We realize that many Rotarians are working hard behind the scenes to make this special program possible for each child and we want to thank Lucy and all Rotarian members of the Rotary Club of Chatham for their effort.” said Lordon

To date 257 babies are registered and McCray said she has received tremendous feedback from parents who shared how excited their children were when their new book arrives each month.

Jessica Savoie, a mother who is participating in the program with her son of Noah said,

“Noah and I love receiving a new book every month. I was very impressed with the quality of the books, hard covers with familiar authors. I recommend it to all moms.” 

To find our more about the program , contact Lucy McCray at 624-8673 or email lucy.mccray413@gmail.com

(Left to right, Adam Lordon, Lucy McCray and Noah McCray a baby currently participating in the program )