August is ‘A Cuppa 4 Our Kids’ month – an initiative of The Greater Shepparton Early Years Language Workgroup to raise funds for the local book bag program. Workplaces of all kinds across the municipality are encouraged to hold a morning tea event for staff and ask for a gold coin donation from those attending.
The event aims to raise funds for the local Best Start Book Bag Program which provides a book bag full of early literacy resources to babies and children aged four weeks, eight months, 18 months and 3 ½ years through their Maternal and Child Health nurse.
This is the sixth year ‘A Cuppa 4 Our Kids’ has been held and the support for it is definitely growing. Workplaces like primary schools, banks, milk bars and family support agencies are all signing up and the Community Literacy workgroup hopes to top the 31 registrations from last year.
Greater Shepparton City Council Director Community Kaye Thomson encouraged the community to support the book bag program.
“Last year more than 2500 book bags were distributed to children through the Greater Shepparton Maternal and Child Health service and local family support services,” Ms Thomson said
The bags include a story book, nursery rhyme and activity sheets, parent information booklet and library information. By providing these book bags we hope to encourage parents and carers to be reading to their children right from birth, and that they understand the importance of early reading and language development.
“Every dollar counts. Whether you are able to raise $10 from your morning tea event or $100, it all goes towards ensuring children receive their four book bags.
“The book bag program has been operating for over nine years and now relies solely on donations from the local community and funding bodies to continue.”
If you would like to register your workplace for ‘A Cuppa 4 Our Kids’ and hold a morning tea event with staff during the month of August or would like more information, please contact Greater Shepparton City Council’s Children’s Services team on 5832 9700.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Council's literacy initatives.
