Heart of Missouri United Way and MU Health to give out free books to first and second grade students
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
On Wednesday, the Heart of Missouri United way and MU Health Care delivered 2,600 Read Across Columbia books to Columbia Public Schools.
The event was held from 9:30 a.m. till 11 a.m. at Benton Elementary School on Hinkson Ave.
The collaboration between the organizations and school district provided 650 literacy bags for first and second grade children. Each bag included four books and a coupon for a free book from the Daniel Boone Regional Library.
Those books include The Crossover, Where Wonder Grows, Listening to the Stars, (IM)possible: The Untold Story of Henry Kirklin, and The Father of Agriculture.
The goal of the program is to get the community more engaged to help build and support the futures of children.
Books are being distributed to students at Benton, Blue Ridge, West, Alpha Hart Lewis and Parkade Elementary Schools.
Multiple officials were at the event including the Superintendent of Columbia Public Schools Brian Yearwood, Benton Elementary School's principal Sarah Sicht and President and CEO of the United Way, Andrew Grabau.
There was also a reading of "Tu Youyou's Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria” from COO of MU Health Care, Katrina Lambrecht.
In addition to the literacy bags, the University of Missouri's Women's Basketball team is giving away two free tickets to their December 2nd game to children who read two of the four free books they received through the program.
