A Route to Reading

Judy M. Reese, Provena United Samaritans Medical Center

I have been a volunteer for Reader’s Route, a department of Danville Area Community College’s Adult Education, for about six years. Our mission is to encourage parents to read to their children. We also provide free education for any adult who wants to learn to read.

I saw an opportunity to supply children’s books, which we receive through grants and donations, to our Emergency Department. The books would help parents read to their children while they were waiting and also advertise our efforts to encourage reading.

In May 2006, I approached the ED manager and she was very open to the idea. She provided us with a book rack for the children’s books in addition to space on the LCD message center in the waiting room with information about our program.

Since that time, we have placed over 250 books in the ED waiting room and have been able to teach many adults to read. I personally am fulfilled to have an active role in our mission, “…to build communities of healing and hope by compassionately responding to human need in the spirit of Jesus Christ.”

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