By Portia Williams
The Greenup Public Library has a program designed to encourage children to read, while at the same time providing them with a meal. It is called ‘Read and Feed,’ and is made possible through the Greenup County Attorney’s Office.
Denise Greathouse, branch manager at the Greenup Public Library, said Read and Feed is similar to the feeding programs that are conducted in the Greenup County school system.
“This is made possible out of the ‘Live Drug Free’ Program out of the Greenup County Attorney’s office, and what they do is once a week they bring sack lunches of non-perishable items,” Greathouse said. “From the way that I understand it, is that it is similar to the sack lunches that they have in the schools for underprivileged kids during the summer. And so, he is also trying to encourage them to come into the libraries to read and to utilize the books. Read and Feed, take a bag and take a book.”
She said the sack lunches contain an information packet which contains encouraging words about the value of reading, and how it can empower a person in life.The sacked lunches were primarily intended for children, but will be given to any person that may be in need.
According to Greathouse, 20 to 25 bags are usually given out from the Greenup Public Library at the discretion of the Greenup County Attorney’s Office.
“Just because you are underprivileged, doesn’t mean that you have to stay underprivileged. Or just because you live in home where illegal drugs are used, doesn’t mean that you have to go into drug,” she said. “Reading not only lifts a person up from the circumstances they are in, but it can also be an escape .You can read a book about a different country, or a different state, and you can escape for a while. Reading can help a person choose a better path in life.”
Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.
