News
August 29, 2016SICM Wraps up Children’s Book Giveaway
Pete the Cat, Make Way for Ducklings, Monsters High, The Magic Treehouse, Goosebumps, The Avengers. . .these books and many more found their way to the homes of children in Schenectady this summer, thanks to a grant from the New York Newspapers Foundation.
SICM is pleased to be the recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Foundation for the purpose of buying new books to distribute to children at SICM’s Summer Meals Program sites. Studies show that summer learning opportunities improve academic outcomes for youth and that early and sustained summer learning opportunities lead to higher graduation rates and better preparation for college. Summer programs have also been shown to positively affect children’s self-esteem, confidence and motivation.
SICM Summer Interns Greg Diebold and Kate Sears have been involved in the Summer Reading program from the beginning of the summer. Each day the duo travels to 2-3 Summer Meals sites to read to children and give them new books to take home. SICM has received and distributed used children’s books for many summers, but this year the children are treated to brand new books. SICM used the grant to purchase hundreds of children’s books from The Open Door on Jay Street, which generously offered a discount for the bulk order. Books are aimed towards children from toddlers to young adults.
Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SICM) is a coalition of 50 congregations founded in 1967 for joint programs of social service and social justice. SICM runs a host of programs serving the city and county of Schenectady, including the SICM Food Program and pantry, the Schenectady Damien Center, Schenectady County Embraces Diversity (SCED), Summer Meals Program and others.
For further information, contact Janet Mattis, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 374-2683, X107, 466-7602 or jmattis@sicm.us or Rev. Phillip Grigsby, Executive Director, at SICM, at 374-2683 or email revphil@sicm.us.
