A local reading program aimed at helping troubled youth improve themselves received a significant financial boost from an organization that places service above self.
The Rotary Club of Oxford recently donated $1,000 to the Oxford Public Library, so it can purchase books to benefit students at the Crossroads for Youth school.
Literacy is the club’s focus this year.
Rotary International is asking local clubs to ‘do what you can in your community to encourage people to read? and ‘if they can’t read, teach them to read,? explained Greg Kudela, president of the Oxford club.
When he learned about the Crossroads book club, run by Sian Marshall, the Oxford library’s head of teen services, Kudela was an immediate fan because he’s a self-described ‘voracious reader? and he loves ‘the idea of teaching people to find a whole new universe? through books.
Crossroads for Youth’s book club is for students in the sixth through 12th grade.
Every two weeks, Marshall meets with three groups of boys and two groups of girls to discuss what they’ve read, play games, interact socially and expand their horizons.
Each of the five sessions lasts an hour.
‘It’s very rewarding,? Marshall said. ‘It’s the best use of a Monday morning I’ve ever had.?
Marshall is planning to use the Rotary Club’s donation to purchase 15 sets of new books, each containing 12 paperbacks.
Rotary’s donation, for which Marshall is extremely grateful, arrived in the nick of time to save the book club. It was ‘crunch time? for the program due to a lack of new books, an expansion in the number of members and the addition of male readers.
‘I was really struggling to continue it,? she said.When she took over the book club in November, it was only for Crossroads girls and many of them had already read the 12 sets of books originally purchased through a grant when the program started in 2008.
In addition to needing fresh reading material for the girls, she also needs books that appeal to boys as she expanded the club to include them.
‘I didn’t want the boys to feel that reading was a girls? thing to do,? she said.
But the books Marshall currently has to offer are geared toward female readers and she’s had to get ‘creative? when marketing them to young males. That’s not easy.
Using the Rotary funds, Marshall is looking to purchase books that ‘appeal to a variety of people? and the reasons they read, whether it’s to escape reality or reflect on life.
While some Crossroads students enjoy reading stories involving fantasy or romance, others, according to Marshall, want something ‘a little more gritty? in which the characters have ‘a harder life? that mirrors their own experiences.
‘They want stories that are more realistic, less silver lining,? she said. ‘They want something they can relate to.?
Marshall is very pleased with the progress she’s witnessed in her book club members over the last few months, particularly the boys. They’re more comfortable, more vocal and more interested during the meetings.
‘I’ve noticed there’s a lot more discussion,? she said. ‘They always have an opinion. They’re listening. They’re paying attention.?
Ultimately, Marshall believes Rotary’s donation will give the club ‘a new lease on life? and for that, she’s truly relieved and thankful.
‘It wasn’t going to (end) on my watch,? she said.