Suess On the Loose

‘Seuss on the Loose’ is going to be held this Saturday at Washington Park Elementary School from 10 a.m.-noon.

All of the Cat in the Hat sightings around town throughout the previous weeks have been made possible by the FERST Foundation, which supports childhood literacy.

The Seuss on the Loose event will entail a Walk-a- thon, have tents set up and “celebrity walkers” walking around the track to support childhood literacy.

The FERST Foundation provides one book a month for any child from birth to age 5, for free. It costs the foundation only $28 per child, per year. This year’s event is to raise money and to increase participation in the program.

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The City of Monticello, County Commission, the Economic Development Authority, Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, and Rep. Susan Holmes all signed proclamations designating Saturday, March 2 as “Seuss on the Loose Day” in Jasper County.

The celebration is part of the Read Across America celebration held every year on this date in honor of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.

Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with a Dr. Seuss parade and character costume contesrt. Everyone is encouraged to dress as his or her favorite storybook character. Celebrity walkers and students can get pledges supporting them for walking.

Booths sponsored by community and school groups will be set up around the perimeter of the track, and each sponsor will have a literacy theme for their booth based on a Dr. Seuss book. Sponsors will read their book during the walk-a-thon. The local banks are cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, so those who get hungry can get relief.

Studies through FERST have shown that 61 percent of low income families do not have a single piece of reading material suitable for a child.

What has been proven also is that one of the most important things parents can do to foster their children’s intellectual growth is read to them at an early age.

The Ferst Foundation addresses one of the most basic issues of childhood literacy—ensuring the availability of quality books in the home so that parents can read to their child.

Books are delivered not just once, but every month, up to 60 times in the child’s critical years of development.

The program is free to participating families and it is made possible through the partnership of volunteers and community partners, all at the low cost of $28 per child per year.

Volunteers called Community Action Teams (CAT) raise funds, register children and promote the program.

The Ferst Foundation CAT in Jasper County is working hard to meet its goals. Last year there were 1,230 books distributed in Jasper County.

Currently, there are 200 books sent per month to children aged birth-five in Jasper County and the foundation and CAT, plan to increase that number as funds permit.

Everyone is invited to participate in the event Saturday to celebrate literacy in Jasper County on Saturday.