Rockwall County 4-H members kick off their annual community service project called Kids Helping Kids. The Project’s goal is to improve the lives of the Navajo Nation’s children by providing donated children’s books. 4-H members hope to collect a truckload of new and used books. They and Navajo Nation Library Program Director, Irving Nelson, have formed partnerships with local businesses, schools and community groups.
Many Navajo families live in high desert communities and struggle to survive in the face of extreme poverty, substandard housing, sporadic medical care, limited educational opportunities and isolation. More than 50% of Navajo children drop out of school and fewer than 7% of adult Navajos have college degrees. Reading is an important activity that no child should be deprived of during the early years of life. Reading stimulates children’s imagination, accelerates emotional development, fosters natural curiosity and increases knowledge.
The Kids Helping Kids project will be underway throughout February and March. Local donation sites include: HEAR Co-Op, Boys and Girls Club of Rockwall, Rockwall County Library, The Fulton School, Lakeland Academy, the office of Dr. Holly Fisher-Britt, the office of Dr. Bart Miller, Amazing Athletes, Casey @ Fannin Place Salon, Rochell Elementary School, Hartman Elementary School, Celia Hays Elementary School, Williams Middle School, Royse City Middle School, The Storage Locker, and Heath City Hall. Look for donation bins at these locations.
For more information about Kids Helping Kids, or about the 4-H program, contact Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Rockwall County, at 972-204-7660.