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Shippensburg University
Principal Participants: Dr. Denise Greene (PKP member, Grant Recipient), Ms. Anne Nickles (Shippensburg Head Start Director), Dr. Kathryn Potoczak (Shippensburg University Psychology Club Advisor), 20 Shippensburg Psychology Club students, 125 Shippensburg Head Start children
Dr. Denise Greene (formerly Adkins) received a grant to purchase books to benefit Shippensburg Head Start children. The project had a two-fold purpose:
- To expand the library of Shippensburg Head Start and
- To provide children with books to keep.
270 books were purchased – 264 from Scholastic, inc. and 6 from Target with a $50 gift card solicited from the Carlisle branch.
125 children received 2 books each, with the remainder of the new books placed in the home-based program library which lends at least 1 book each week to home-based families. Given that 20 books were added to the home-based library, this project has the capacity to benefit current and future Head Start children.
Prior to accepting a position at Roanoke College, Dr. Greene arranged for the Shippensburg University (SU) Psychology Club (which she advised at the time) to host reading days with the Head Start children. Twenty SU Psychology Club students, directed by Dr. Potoczak (the new advisor), delivered the books to the Head Start children and spent time reading to the children in classes held at the Spiritual Center.
Anne Nickles, the Head Start director, said “This was a great project which accomplished the goal of providing more books for children while additionally creating an opportunity for the children to benefit from the attention of the SU students during a special reading time.” In email correspondence, she added “I want you to know that I am still so pleased that you provided this unique opportunity for our Head Start children! Community support is a critically needed factor in order to ensure the continued success of our Program!!”
Overall, the program was very successful. Of the $1582 grant, $1037.63 was spent to purchase 264 books. A local Target branch donated a $50 gift card which was used to purchase 6 hardcover books. Scholastic, Inc. offered a greater discount than initially negotiated.
The Head Start children were thrilled to receive books for they could call their own and really enjoyed reading with the university students. I think this is a great way to help foster a love for reading in disadvantaged children. Coordinating with the Head Start director was very helpful as she was able to help put together an age-appropriate book list and recommend vendors who would offer discounts.
