NEWS

Community Project - #weneeddiversebooks

Literature featuring diverse characters is essential for all children to understand the world we live in. Here at Reach Out and Read Kansas City, we know how important it is to get these books in our clinics and into the hands of children. The challenge? Being able to afford them. 


Read more on how ROR-KC and the Guadalupe Center joined forces to get more diverse books in the hands of our community's children.

Read more

Vote for Reach Out and Read!

Reach Out and Read is thrilled to be featured in Target Circle from January 1 through March 31, 2023! As long as your "my store" is set in one of the following cities; Topeka, Wichita, Derby, Manhattan, Garden City and Salina, you are eligible to vote for Reach Out and Read, Inc which will provide donations directly to Reach Out and Read Kansas City. To participate:


  1. Choose My Target in the Target app
  2. Tap on the Circle logo
  3. Select Vote for nonprofits


For more information about the Target Circle Rewards program, visit their website here.

EVENTS

For the Love of Books Breakfast

It was wonderful being back in person this year! We enjoyed the morning with Christel Bell from Fox 4 at the helm. Katie Schultz inspired us with her story about the power of giving, our impactful video of how our program works and, of course, the moving and inspirational story from our Keynote Speaker, Angela Cervantes. Click here to view images captured throughout the morning by the talented Maegan Kabel from Gumball Revue.


We can't thank our sponsors and attendees enough for their support. Events are extremely important in helping us get books into the hands of our local children and you have made our job easier. Together, we raised just over $57,000! 


We appreciate your partnership and generosity!


We want to hear from you! If you could take a couple minutes to fill out a quick survey, we want to make sure we are doing all we can to make each year even better!

Give your feedback

Calling all Volunteers!

Books On Tap Event Committee 2023

Books On Tap 2023 Event Details

September 28, 2023 | 5-8 p.m.

Chicken N Pickle

5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS 66223


The 12th Annual Books On Tap event will return to Chicken N Pickle on Thursday, Sept. 28th, 2023, and we need your help to make it happen! Join us by being on the event committee to help make this event a huge success.


The first kick-off meeting is at Chicken N Pickle - OP on April 25 from 4-6 p.m. You won't want to miss it! There will be food and prizes. A time line and schedule of zoom and in-person meetings leading up to the event will be shared at the first meeting.


Committee Opportunities:

  • Silent Auction
  • Entertainment
  • Decor
  • Communication
  • Sponsorships


Committee sign ups are open until March 31st. Sign up today and be a part of an exciting happy hour event while making a difference in the lives children in the Kansas City area!


Contact Jennie Andra at jandra@kumc.edu with any questions.

Sign up!

MEDICAL MINUTE

by Sallie Page-Goertz, MN, APRN, IBCLC

Early Brain Development


March is blowing in like a lion, based on the view out my window!  In pediatric clinics, fewer children are coming in ill with the dreaded respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Kiddos and adults who got their flu vaccines had a much lower risk of severe illness/hospitalization with influenza this season…Yay for vaccine science! Now, more work is needed to encourage families to immunize their children with the effective Covid-19 vaccines – these also greatly reduce risk of severe illness/hospitalization for kids and adults. Definitely contact me with your concerns about immunizing your kids! spage@kumc.edu.  


Now, on to very exciting research showing the importance of parent-child language interactions and early brain development! The Reach Out and Read model targets concerns that children who are NOT in a language rich environment experience delays in their language development. SO, providers’ targeted message to caregivers is the importance of book sharing every day – as a strategy to provide a language rich environment for our most at-risk children!


To read more about early brain development, click below.

Read more

STEFANIE'S BOOKSHELF

by Stefanie Estes, M.L.S.

I’m Not a Mouse! by Evgenia Golubeva

Published by Child’s Play

Age Range: 3 – 6 years


Since the early days when they began toddling around, I have called my boys “skunk” whenever they are in a mischievous mood. Now, at the ages of 5 and 8, they still giggle at the nickname and occasionally call me a skunk too. Nicknames are one way we show affection to those closest to us, but not everyone likes having an alternate name.


In “I’m Not a Mouse!” we follow Olivia, who turns into her mother’s pet name for her whenever called. As a result, she gets into silly situations including a near miss as a meal for the family cat. The story concludes when Olivia realizes that she does not have to answer to “mouse” and has the last laugh as she learns her grandfather’s nickname for her mother. Olivia’s journey is beautifully complimented with whimsical and diverse illustrations. It is the perfect story to share with littles who love to giggle. Along with writing and illustrating charming children’s books, Golubeva is a filmmaker who created the award-winning children’s short-film, “The Witch & the Baby” which can be viewed for free on Vimeo.



VOLUNTEER CORNER

Celebrating Our Volunteers!


Every year we take a special day to really thank our wonderful Reach Out & Read KC volunteers. This year our appreciation event will be at Chicken n Pickle – OP on Thursday, April 13th from 4-7pm. If you have volunteered your time or talent to ROR-KC this past year, please consider joining us so we can pamper you for a little while. 


Please RSVP by March 31st at the link below.

RSVP

Volunteers


  • Advisory Board
  • Office Volunteers: Gina Kellogg, Ruby Nelson, Raisa Akram, Allison Reed, Roxana Akram, Sally Clark, Patti Jachowicz, Margarita Watson, Tegan Horsley, Lexi Andra, Chadli Andra and Lisa Nickel


Groups




Want to be a Reach Out and Read KC volunteer? Click here to sign up!

Book Donations


  • St. Teresa’s Academy donated 27 books
  • Marilyn Pattison donated 50 new books
  • National Charity League donated 72 books
  • Mixxed Fit donated 186 books
  • Buy Buy Baby donated 190 new books
  • Zondi Krehbiel donated 143 books
  • Charli & Lexi Andra donated 114 books
  • Claudia Cordero Estarza donated 73 books
  • Pi Beta Phi First Book donated 695 new books
  • Ray-Pec Student Council donated 177 books
  • Peggy Andra donated 54 books
  • Sally Clark donation in honor of Baby Mayton donated 57 new books
  • Primrose School of Leawood donated 261 books
  • St. James Catholic School donated 518 books


Shout out to all of our amazing volunteers!

We couldn't do it without you.


Play a word game


You have six tries to get this 6 letter word right! Hint: this is what ROR-KC strives to make in KC.


Did you figure it out? Post on your social media page and tag @rorkc in it! The answer will be in our May newsletter.


Click here to play


January's answer: literacy

You Can Make A Difference


When you make a gift to Reach Out and Read Kansas City, you make it possible for families to read together. Your donations are used to purchase new children's books and deliver them directly to medical providers throughout the area.

Give a Gift Today


reachoutandreadkc.org

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