Rotarians, retirees and businesses in Perth Northern Suburbs are teaming up to provide free books for children in north coast suburbs.
The Rotary Club of Mindarie has joined the national REaD initiative and recruited RAAFA Merriwa Estate retirees Kevin Brown, Noel Cahill and Bernie Schuller to make red boxes for the books.
Rotary spokeswoman Andrea Folkard said the literacy program encouraged reading, particularly among young children.
To start off, boxes will be located in Goodstart Early Learning Centres in Clarkson and Merriwa and State MPs’ offices, where people can donate books that will be sanitised before being put in the boxes.
“It doesn’t have to be new books – second-hand books are fantastic,” Mrs Folkard said.
She said once restrictions eased, they hoped to spread the initiative to more businesses, including cafes, and even sports clubs.
“A lot of children, because of family circumstances, don’t get access to reading material,” he said.
RAAFA retirees handed over the first six completed boxes in early October and Mr Butterworth said Bunnings in Clarkson has offered to donate supplies so they could make more.
The project also has benefits for the retirees, as RAAFA general manager Sandy Komen said residents used the workshop space to work and socialise, in lieu of their own garden sheds.
“It’s great for their mental health,” she said.
The Rotary Club of Mindarie has joined the national REaD initiative and recruited RAAFA Merriwa Estate retirees Kevin Brown, Noel Cahill and Bernie Schuller to make red boxes for the books.
Rotary spokeswoman Andrea Folkard said the literacy program encouraged reading, particularly among young children.
To start off, boxes will be located in Goodstart Early Learning Centres in Clarkson and Merriwa and State MPs’ offices, where people can donate books that will be sanitised before being put in the boxes.
“It doesn’t have to be new books – second-hand books are fantastic,” Mrs Folkard said.
She said once restrictions eased, they hoped to spread the initiative to more businesses, including cafes, and even sports clubs.
“A lot of children, because of family circumstances, don’t get access to reading material,” he said.
RAAFA retirees handed over the first six completed boxes in early October and Mr Butterworth said Bunnings in Clarkson has offered to donate supplies so they could make more.
The project also has benefits for the retirees, as RAAFA general manager Sandy Komen said residents used the workshop space to work and socialise, in lieu of their own garden sheds.
“It’s great for their mental health,” she said.