Thanks to the generous donations of American Legion General Buckner Post 16 to Homer Homemakers FCE for the past few years, the club has been able to expand its outreach to families in the Homer area.

Prior to receiving funding from Post 16, the club provided Raise-a-Reader packets to those parents who had babies born in May (Mother’s Day observance) and October (National FCE Week). The packets are now distributed year round through South Peninsula Hospital to all parents whose babies are born there.

Raise-a-Reader is a literacy program. Homer Homemakers FCE teams with the Homer Public Library and Sprout/Best Beginnings to provide information on the benefits of reading to children beginning while they are babies, a list of  books appropriate for the very young that are available at the Homer Public Library, invitations to apply for a library card and join the Imagination Library (Dolly Parton’s literacy project), and a suitable book.

 Currently the club is receiving a discounted price on the books courtesy of Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware. The Post 16 grants have made it possible for Homer Homemakers FCE to purchase about 140 books per year.

The club thanks all who have participated in its Raise-a-Reader program.

Rieta Walker, Secretary

Homer Homemakers FCE