Seattle, WA. Despite the challenges involved with social distancing requirements and remote learning, Page Ahead, a program dedicated to closing the literacy achievement gap experienced by at-risk children, was able to provide over 145 thousand books to kids in Washington this summer. “It was super important and extra challenging,” says Rebecca Brinbury, Page Ahead’s Development Manager.
Students receiving books
Book Up Summer, Page Ahead’s flagship program helps prevent summer reading loss, the decline in reading development that occurs when children are away from school. Research shows that summer reading loss has a more significant impact on lower-income students, largely because they have limited access to reading material. In a typical year, Book Up Summer allows students to choose twelve books each to bring home from school book fairs in the spring. This year, with schools and libraries closed, it was more important than ever that kids have books at home, but there were barriers at every step of the process.
With book fairs no longer running in schools, Page Ahead provided web portals and paper packets for children to select books from during remote learning. According to Page Ahead, the trick to “making” kids read is allowing them to choose books that they are interested in, so it was important that kids were still able to select their own books during the COVID-19 crisis.
After the books were selected, Page Ahead staff worked to coordinate the book shipments and deliveries. With many retailers closed, Page Ahead staff had to find substitutions for books that were out of stock.
In the end, Page Ahead was able to deliver over 145 thousand books. Brinbury emphasizes that Page Ahead is a four-person organization and that they would not have been able to deliver the books, were it not for the help of “some really amazing volunteers who wore masks and gloves, socially distanced, and were able to get thirty thousand books packed.” “With everything going on people really wanted to help,” says Brinbury. Many volunteers delivered books to Page Ahead’s partner schools themselves, and when students couldn’t make it to school to pick up their books, volunteers brought the books directly to them.
Now that Page Ahead has a model for providing Book Up Summer remotely, Brinbury says they are prepared for the possibility of running the program remotely again next Spring.
From Page Ahead:
Literacy can make the difference between the poverty of one generation and the promise of the next. Page Ahead helps children realize their potential by providing them with the inspiration to read.
Burien, WA. The Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program has continued to serve the King County community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Of course, our activities and events have changed,” says Grace Stiller, the program’s President. Volunteers with the Weed Warriors must maintain social distancing protocols, but according to Stiller, the program is still active and engaged.
While the COVID-19 crisis has forced many organizations to close their doors, the Weed Warriors continue to do essential work in Burien’s New Start Community Garden, pictured above. The community garden includes personal patches as well as many feature gardens, and a stage that, before the COVID-19 crisis, was used for community events. According to Stiller, the Weed Warriors’ work in the community garden is “an important part of being able to plant and harvest food for the food bank.” “Volunteers are always needed,” says Stiller, “we always need help in the community garden, and at Mathison Park in Burien.”
Earth Day event 2019 – Students installed Native Plants in the New Start Community Garden, Edible Native Plant Section.
2018 – Produce harvested from the New Start Community Garden for the food bank.
The Weed Warriors program also partners with the National Wildlife Federation to provide the Gardens for Wildlife program. The program includes Zoom Workshops on topics like sustainable gardening practices and controlling invasive, non-native weeds, as well as a restoration event at a community garden or park. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s restoration events will follow social distancing protocols and forgo large group interactions. According to Stiller, the National Wildlife Federation’s goal to protect wildlife complements the Weed Warriors’ mission to “protect the habitat that gives the wildlife homes.”
Kid’s Native Bird Workshop and Birdhouse Building project 2019 – Kids built their birdhouses at Seahurst Park.
Stiller co-founded the Weed Warriors in 2008 to help students meet their community service requirements, and the program has grown since then. The Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program provides educational workshops, habitat restoration, and community service opportunities. Stiller explains that “when people understand our relationship to nature they’ll respect and advocate for nature and advocate for policies that continue to allow for harmony with nature.”
From Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program:
We’re advocates for healthy habitats for both people and wildlife. We connect kids to nature through education and the arts, empowering them to steward the earth and change the world. Our vision is to see the world living in harmony with nature.
Seattle, WA. United Way of King County is thanking sponsors who are contributing to its Community Relief Fund. Supporters like the Seahawks are helping to provide immediate access to food, rental assistance, and the support needed for those suffering because of the COVID-19 crisis.
United Way King County writes:
“We would like to recognize our amazing sponsors @Seahawks for their help and support during this crisis. The Seahawks continue to be a strong leader and motivator in our community and we appreciate all of their help fighting hunger and homelessness. Thanks to the many generous donors to the Community Relief Fund: COVID-19, people are receiving rental assistance and help with food.”
You may consider joining them to help make these sorts of things happen:
Rental Assistance. Help is going to King County residents who have lost part or all of their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are behind on their rent.
Access to Food. United Way team is helping get food to people who need it through extra support at food banks and community meal sites. Plus, roughly 1,800 families will receive two grocery vouchers of $400 each.
Here’s a video about the United Way’s work:
From United Way:
Next up: We have exhausted initial funding for rental assistance, if you would like to join this impressive group of donors and keep this work going, please connect with James Modie at [email protected]This link will take you away from uwkc.org or:
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