Children visited with Santa in the crisp late afternoon sunlight Wednesday at Martin Grounds Summer House, where a pop-up event hosted by SOAR came with a surprise for one of their local partners.
SOAR is the early childhood education program created in 2011 by the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation. The program focuses on early childhood literacy and kindergarten readiness. SOAR not only hosts the county-wide Ready! for Kindergarten program but has also given over 250,000 books to local children through the last decade.
Wedneday, Muhlenberg children enjoyed talking with Santa and getting a free book. A campfire was lit, and families enjoyed roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
During the event, the Foundation recognized the support that Muhlenberg County Public Libraries provides for early childhood education, presenting the library system with two grants totaling $1,000 to benefit the storytime program. Muhlenberg County Public Libraries hosts four storytime programs each week for eager youngsters. Storytime meets twice each week at Harbin Memorial and twice at the Central City library.
The gift to the storytime program was part of the Martin Foundation’s 10 Days of Giving event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Foundation.
From left to right: Meredith Zahirovic, Director of Grants for the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation; Molly Fauver, Janet Harris and Susan King of Muhlenberg County Public Libraries; and Vicki Yonts and Samantha Tedders, both from the SOAR program.
