Local reading initiatives receive financial support | News

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded more than $100,000 to nonprofits, libraries and schools in Alabama, including two local recipients, to support youth literacy initiatives.

The Link of Cullman County and West Elementary Library each received $4,000 to support their reading initiatives.

Dakota Trammell, The Link's literacy coordinator, said the funds will be used to further develop the organization's after-school tutoring program, which aims to help students get up to speed in areas they may be struggling with.

“We have a lot of students coming to us whose reading skills are below grade level and who just need to work on those skills,” Trammell said.

While The Link has a relatively well-stocked library, it can sometimes be difficult to find books that students both want to read and are at the appropriate reading level. Trammell said The Link will use its grant funds to purchase laptops for its teachers and subscribe to Raz-Kids, an online reading program.

Raz-Kids' collection of over 2,000 digital books not only provides tools to develop active reading strategies, but is also adaptable to different reading levels, so students can read a story that interests them, regardless of their current ability.

“So if I have a student who is interested in things like dinosaurs but hates reading, in most cases I can find something that interests them and is at their reading level. Then we can work on that reading skill,” Trammell said.

“We understand that investing in youth literacy means investing in the future of students and our communities,” said Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, in a press release emailed to The Times. “With these grants, we hope to amplify programs' efforts to build students' critical thinking skills, creativity and confidence so they can reach their potential and achieve their dreams.”

Tere Kelly, librarian at West Elementary School, said the school plans to use its funds to fill “some gaps” in its nonfiction collection discovered during recent surveys. She said several books requested by students will also be ordered.

Other recipients from Alabama include:

– Independent Reading/Counseling Service Inc. in Anniston.

— Arabic Junior High School

— Delta Elementary School in Bay Minette.

– The Gatherings Mno group in Bessemer.

— The Literacy Council of Central Alabama in Birmingham.

— Friends of the Chilton Clanton Public Library in Clanton.

— Priceville Elementary School.

— Hillcrest Elementary School.

—Rogers High School in Florence.

—South Baldwin Literacy Council in Foley.

— Wills Valley Elementary School.

— Greensboro Middle School.

— Geneva County Middle School.

— Hayden Middle School.

— Meridianville Middle School.

— Mobile living.

— Orchard Elementary School.

— Johnnie R. Carr Middle School in Montgomery.

— Margaret Elementary School.

— Odenville Middle School.

— E & B Fields Community Program in Sawyerville.

— Imagination Library Selma-Dallas, Inc.

– Children’s literacy services in Silverhill.

— Springville Middle School.

— Steele Elementary School.

— United Way of West Alabama.

— Weaver Elementary School.