Get Lit(erary) with Coweta Ferst Readers
By KATIE ANDERSON, Out and About
Looking for an affordable holiday gift for a child in your life? How about a free gift? (And one that keeps on giving.) It may sound too good to be true, but if you know a child up to age 5, they can receive a free book in the mail every month.
Coweta Ferst Readers (formally known as Coweta Ferst Foundation), a local nonprofit, provides this life-changing service for Coweta’s children. The only criteria is that the child must be between birth and five years, and live in Coweta County.
The program reaches back to 1999, when Robin Ferst brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Georgia. In 2004, CLICK and Stepping Stones held an event for children in Coweta County, and signed up 400 children to receive free books; however, there was no set plan on how to pay for them. Luckily, several organizations and businesses stepped up, and Coweta Ferst Foundation was born.
Board of Directors member Linda Brass said, “We like to joke with people when they hear the name Ferst that you would think a children’s literacy program could spell Ferst. We say we can, it is F-E-R-S-T because Robin Ferst brought the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Georgia. Robin was partially deaf, so growing up, reading was her escape.
“Each county in Georgia that is in The Ferst Foundation (recently rebranded as Ferst Readers) must raise their own funds and everything that we raise stays right here in Coweta County. We have no paid staff so everything goes for the benefit of providing age appropriate books to children.”
Currently, the organization serves 24% of the eligible population in Coweta. Their goal is to serve 2500 children each month, and to meet this goal, they are always fundraising, with their Coin Drives in the schools and the Lewis Grizzard and Catfish Memorial Bike Ride, both held in the fall. In the spring, they hold a fund drive for donors to support one child for one year, at $50 per year.
Brass says the Board of Directors appreciates the support of their Community Action Team of volunteers, the Coweta County School System, their corporate sponsors, and every donor, no matter the size of the donation. “They are critical to the success of our program and we always welcome more. We also appreciate any donations … every bit adds up and matters. As an example, who would think that coins from the schools could add up like they do, but in that case every penny counts!”
To support these endeavors or to sign up a child, visit cowetaferst.org.
“The key is to start at birth. Immersing a child in abundant, rich language can be a stronger predictor of literacy and academic achievement than family income or a parent’s level of education.” – (ferstreaders.org)
Coweta Ferst Facts
• There are more than 8,255 children under the age of five living in Coweta County. About half of those children are in low-income families and do not attend preschool.
• 368,118 books have been mailed since 2006 to children in Coweta County.
• 7,993 children have graduated from the program upon turning 5 since 2006.
Tips to promote language development: (via ferstreaders.org)
Birth to One Year
• Read/sing to children starting at birth.
• Read to your baby every day.
One to Three Years
• Read favorite books over and over again.
• Use different voices when reading to make it more fun.
Four to Five Years:
• Let your child pick the books, and let them pretend to write.
No matter the age, always make reading FUN!
Fundraising with Coin Drives in the schools.
No matter the age, always make reading fun!
