Published: December 18, 2008 09:36 pm      

Club donates to Fair Oaks program

DANVILLE — The boxes were bursting with books about some well-loved characters — Sponge Bob Square Pants, Jimmy Neutron, Scooby Doo, Junie B. Jones.

“They’re going to go wild,” Heidi Wilson said as she sorted through the books. “They love Junie B. Jones.”

Wilson, a prevention specialist with the Danville Housing Authority, will take the books to the Fair Oaks Enrichment Center for the children to enjoy.

The 681 books were donated by the General Federation of Woman’s Club-Illinois 18th District, which includes Vermilion County. Some books were new; most were used.

Many of them were collected by students, staff and parents at Bismarck-Henning Elementary School.

“The district’s accent is lifelong literacy,” 18th District President Karel Volpert said.

Volpert made the presentation during a meeting of the 18th District last weekend. The book collection was the district’s first project concerning literacy.

“I think it’s great,” Wilson said after she accepted the books. “They look really good. We really appreciate it.”

The Enrichment Center provides services for families who live at Fair Oaks. One of its programs is a library, where children can check out books to take home or read there.

The center has just a small library, she said, so the donations will help it expand.

“Our kids love to read,” she added.

The center also offers after-school tutoring three days a week. On Fridays, members of the Danville Alliance Church come out and do activities with the children. About 40 children participate in that program.

The programs reach children in grades kindergarten through 12th, but the majority are between 5 and 11 years old.

“We’re trying to give them somewhere to go to and give them a positive atmosphere and promote learning,” Wilson said.

The Enrichment Center’s director is Tamara Forthenberry.