Telegraph Staff Writer
In honor of National Literacy Day and National Literacy Month, the Col. Samuel Elbert Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution presented Melrose Public Library volunteer Susan Cooperman with its Literacy Champion Award at its Nov. 1 meeting.
Chapter Regent Betty Hodges said Cooperman was being recognized “for all the wonderful work you’ve done with underprivileged children in this area.”
Cooperman has been involved with providing books for the Pony Pack program. Designated Melrose Elementary School students in grades K-6 receive backpacks that not only contain books, but weekend food as well. She also helps provide children’s books to local book houses, sponsored by the Melrose Library Association.
“Thank you, Susan, for all you do to promote literacy,” Hodges said.
Cooperman said the Pony Pack program started out with eight children and has now grown to 40 and may possibly reach 50.
“If you hear of any place selling books, I am running out of books. The number of kids I bring books to is growing,” Cooperman said, adding, “I always kind of keep an ear out for where there are sales.”
Cooperman knows the importance of books in children’s lives. In fact, she’s witnessing how they’re affecting her granddaughter.
“She’s 18 months old,” Cooperman said. “I read to her constantly. She has a vocabulary you would not believe. It’s amazing.”
Keystone Heights Mayor Karen Lake read a proclamation in recognition of Nov. 1 as National Family Literacy Day and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution’s commitment to promoting and supporting programs to increase literacy.
Contained in the proclamation was the fact that National Family Literacy Day was established by the 103rd Congress in 1994. The day “highlights the importance of reading and learning for the entire family and emphasizes the impact that parents have on their child’s learning,” Lake said.
Also contained within the proclamation was the fact that as many as one in six adults struggle with reading and writing. “By learning to read, individuals can gain self-respect and confidence and strive for goals that otherwise would not be achievable,” Lake read.
The proclamation was presented to Cooperman by Hodges.
