WICOMICO PUBLIC LIBRARIES RECEIVES $4,500 GRANT FROM ARTHUR W. PERDUE FOUNDATION FOR SUMMER READING PROGRAM

Perdue Farms, through a $4,500 grant funded by the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, is continuing its support for the Summer Reading Program at Wicomico Public Libraries. 

Summer Reading programs beginning June 17 and officially ending August 12 and have two parts for families to enjoy. Part One invites kids from birth through 18 years of age to come to any of the Library’s branches and receive a Summer Reading game board. Each game board is specifically created for each age group: birth to 5 years old, 6 to 11 year olds and teens. The board provides an assortment of activities to do at home from talking and singing to your baby, reading with your child and attending teen programs.

In addition to reading during the summer, part two of the program allows kids and their families to come to an array of free events such as magic shows, Superhero Cinema, Make and Take a Craft, Music with Uncle Pete, story times and much more. Sign-ups for game boards are now available.

“Summer Reading is an important component in a child’s education,” said Library Executive Director Andrea Berstler. “Much more than just entertainment, summer reading programs address the ‘Summer Slide’. This loss of skills and knowledge causes children to lose ground in their educational progress. Studies show that by the fifth grade, children can lose two to three years of educational progress, due simply to a lack of exposure to reading and educational opportunities over the summer months.”

Wicomico Public Libraries is also offering a Summer Reading Program for adults. Adults are eligible to be entered into a drawing for monthly prizes by picking up a “Find the Book Thief” game board at any Library branch and completing three quizzes and/or reading a book and entering a slip.

“We are honored to once again be able to donate to our local Library to assure this great program continues,” said Kim Nechay, Executive Director of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation.

The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of their belief in supporting the communities where and with whom they do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of their associates live and work.

“The current mission of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation is to enhance the communities in which our associates live and work. We do this by addressing a number of priorities, one of which is education. The Summer Reading Program is a special way for our missions to merge in the Salisbury community by facilitating a creative and fun way for area young people to continue to learn and be incentivized to read during their summer vacations from school,” Nechay said.

Wicomico Public Libraries are located in Downtown Salisbury, the Centre at Salisbury, in Pittsville, and the Library Bookmobile. Wicomico Public Libraries offer numerous free resources, such as Internet access, a variety of classes and events, and an online eBooks library, and it engages the community through education, economic development and through various community events. You Belong @ Wicomico Public Libraries!

###

For more information on Wicomico Public Libraries or if you wish to become a Friend of the Library, please visit our Web site - WicomicoLibrary.org or check out our newsletter – Belong – in the Library, online, or in a local business near you.

Caption: Kim Nechay, right, Executive Director of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, presents a $4,500 grant to Wicomico Public Libraries’ Youth Services Manager, Barbara Graham, and program participants.