Kiwanis of Greater Ouachita (Monroe and West Monroe) partnered with the Ouachita Parish Public Library in Bikes for Books. The Kiwanis Club donated a bicycle to each of the ten branches of Ouachita Parish Public Library and presented these prizes to high-achieving readers at a reception held at Louisiana Delta Community College, Milhaven Road campus, at 9:30 am, Friday, August 10.
“Just as it is important for kids to exercise their bodies, it is important for them to exercise their minds. By reading during the summer, kids practice the learning skills they obtained during the previous school year and prepare for the coming one. Bikes for Books offers children a chance to develop both mind and body and is an incentive to encourage them to complete our Summer Reading Challenge,” says Robin Toms, Director of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. “We thank the Kiwanis of Greater Ouachita for the opportunity to partner with them to benefit the kids of Ouachita Parish.”
Ten children who met all the qualifications of the Ouachita Parish Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge were awarded bicycles Friday, August 10, 2018 by the Kiwanis of Monroe and West Monroe. At the end of the Summer Reading Challenge, a random drawing was held for kids aged 12 and under who completed the entire reading program that included reading, attending programs at the library, and participation in community events between May 20th and August 4th. Each of the ten library branches had one winning child.
The bikes were presented in a ceremony at Delta Community College by Kiwanis President Jonathan Booth. Families of the winning children, as well as Kiwanis members and library representatives, were present to celebrate the achievement and good fortune of these children. Jonathan Booth indicated that the Kiwanis were pleased with the partnership with the Ouachita Parish Public Library and the organization intends to continue the program in 2019.
The following children were presented bicycles at the event: Alexis Jones, age 7; Kiyane Thomas, age 12; Blake Jameson, age 9, Ra'Kayla Jackson, age 12; Garrett George, age 7; Myriam Rowley, age 7; Kaylan Sanderson, age 10; Georgia Tate, age 7, and Oliver LaBorde, age 9. Brooklyn Lord, age 8, also won a bicycle but did not attend.
Kiwanians’ purpose is to serve the children of the world, so it is their privilege to participate in this program and many others. Funds for such efforts are raised locally primarily through the annual Pancake Day fundraiser, which will be held this year on November 6 at First United Methodist Church, Monroe.
More information about the Ouachita Parish Public Library system is available here. More information about the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ouachita is available here.