South Carolina First Steps promotes early literacy, encourages volunteerism as part of “MLK Week of Service”
Columbia, SC – In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, South Carolina First Steps today kicked off a statewide reading event for young children. The kick-off event, held at Edventure, marks the beginning of the agency’s fifth annual MLK Week of Service, which is organized annually by the First Steps AmeriCorps program.
Throughout the week of January 20-24, AmeriCorps members and volunteers, including state and local elected officials and employees from Enterprise, will be reading in over a hundred First Steps 4K classrooms all throughout the state. Thanks to the Toys for Tots foundation, every child in a participating classroom will take home a copy of this year’s featured book “I Try” by Susie Brooks.
“We are deeply grateful to the volunteers every year who make the time visit a First Steps 4K classroom,” said Ann Vandervliet, executive director of South Carolina First Steps. “We encourage parents and caretakers to read to young children every day and to enjoy that time together."
MLK Day is one of two federal holidays recognized as national days of service by AmeriCorps to encourage Americans to give back to their communities. The MLK Week of Service has become a hallmark of the First Steps AmeriCorps program, which is the largest national service program in the state. 50 AmeriCorps members, along with over 70 community volunteers, will read to students in all 46 counties.
"South Carolina First Steps AmeriCorps members dedicate a full year to serving families and communities," says Tyshica McConner, the program's coordinator. "The MLK Week of Service offers our members an additional opportunity to further support our state by engaging with and inspiring our youngest learners."
South Carolina First Steps encourages all South Carolinians to take action during MLK Week of Service. To learn more about volunteer and service opportunities at First Steps or to make a donation, visit scfirststeps.org/get-involved/volunteer.
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