Community Reader Day had a different format this year, due to COVID-19, but that didn’t stop the Literacy Council from celebrating the legacy of longtime director Beverly Whitfield.
Francene Gilmer has taken up the position long held by Whitfield, who passed away in September of 2019, and she says that like everything else, COVID-19 has affected how they can do Community Reader Day. In the past, volunteer readers would have gone into the schools, but this year they did them online via Facebook live, and the reading goes until 2 p.m. today.
Community representatives read two different books, one for the children in second grade and younger, and the other for older students. Gilmer says reading to children is of vital importance for early literacy, and can set them up for success later in life.
The readings will be available for viewing after the event ends on the Christian County Literacy Council Facebook page. Gilmer says this year’s event was in memory of Whitfield, who for many years was a staunch advocate for children and early literacy in the community.