Read for a World Record & Help Support Early Literacy

On Thursday, October 2, 2008, the JumpStart non-profit organization is sponsoring "Read for the Record" events all over the country. For each $10 donation, an at-risk child will receive a copy of the picture book Corduroy by Don Freeman. The goals are to promote early literacy among disadvantaged children and to set a new world record for reading the same book on the same day.

On the S.F. Peninsula, the Shelter Network organization will be hosting "Read for the Record" events at its homeless shelters for families in Daly City, San Mateo, Redwood City, and Menlo Park. They are also looking for volunteers to come read to a homeless child from 6-7 P.M. More information on the Shelter Network events can be found here.

For those living elsewhere, you can find a local "Read for the Record" event here.

This is a great way for parents to teach their children the importance of giving back to the community because it's understandable even by the very young. It's good to hear the call to practice charity in our churches/synagogues on the Sabbath but we need to show our kids how to put those teachings into action.