FLINT, Michigan—Storytime isn’t just for kids. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint awarded over $4,320 to The Flint Club’s “Books Change Lives” program where books, bookshelves, and community literacy programming are provided to engage both parents and their children in raising Flint literacy rates.
The Flint Club, a local nonprofit, was founded in 2001 to unite Flint Central Alumni under the common cause of community volunteering. It since has grown to include supporting literacy for low- to moderate-income families.
“Kids follow the example of their parents — if they see their parents reading, it will help them be enthusiastic about it too,” says Dayne Walling, founder of The Flint Club.
Though The Flint Club was announced the recipient of the grant funds Oct. 4, the initiative started in the beginning of 2018 as a piloted partnership with Totem Books and Habitat of Humanity of Genesee County. Together, the organizations gave families living in a Habitat house a bookshelf full of books, supporting the literacy of the family. That was just the beginning.
Families are also invited to Totem Books the first Saturday of every month for a couple of hours of family storytime where books are read out loud followed by art projects and snacks.
“This grant will allow this program to bring literacy assistance to dozens of students and their families in Flint,” says FaLessia Booker, literacy program coordinator for The Flint Club. “By engaging parents and caring adults, we help students to be successful not just while participating in the program, but also when they return home.”
For more information or to donate to The Flint Club visit their website.
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