The success of the All District Reads model revolves around community involvement and volunteerism. A prime example involves the labeling events that take place prior to program launches. At these events, volunteers place hundreds—or even thousands—of labels in copies of the book that students will be reading. The labels honor those businesses, organizations, and individuals whose generous financial support makes the program possible.
Rotary Clubs often organize and/or provide many of the volunteers for these labeling events. Members love being able to support their local schools in a casual, relaxed setting.
Some labeling events feature a “beer and books” motif. For example, two separate “Tales and Ales” labeling events took place at Smartmouth Brewing Co. in August in preparation for the fall All Norfolk Reads program. The Rotary Club of Norfolk mobilized dozens of volunteers at these events to label more than 15,000 copies of School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney.
The venue and the camaraderie made the event fun. One mother attended with her rising third grader because the family had gotten so much out of reading Frindle in the previous All Norfolk Reads program. She saw “Tales and Ales” advertised on Facebook and knew she wanted to help out.
Elsewhere, more than 60 volunteers gathered at MoMac Brewing Company in Portsmouth on September 25th to place labels in 7,500 copies of School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney in preparation for the fall All Portsmouth Reads program. Many members of the Rotary Club of Churchland and the Rotary Club of Portsmouth participated in the event. Anyone who volunteered to hand out books at a Portsmouth elementary school on October 28th as part of the program launch received a free Rotary mug.
In addition, members of the Cape Charles Rotary in Northampton gathered to label nearly 1,000 copies of The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary for All Northampton Reads. Last chronologically, but certainly not least, members of the Rotary Club of Suffolk and the North Suffolk Rotary Club gathered in October for a labeling event in preparation for the fall All Suffolk Reads program. Students are reading The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney.
All District Reads appreciates all those who volunteer for these labeling events. And so do the students who ultimately receive the books!