Progress Report

Rotarians worked with two “grassroots” Navajo nonprofits, Read at Home and Chinle Planting Hope, to support lifelong literacy and community development. Working with Read at Home, Rotarians provided high-quality children’s magazine subscriptions (Highlights’ High Five and Hello) to over 500 students. Magazines are sent to classroom teachers who read with the children and guide the literacy activities. Each student takes home their own copy to share with family, read to siblings and with parents. Funds were also used to purchase high-interest new books for children of all ages.

Native illustrator Jonathon Nelson and his mother stand in front of the bookmobile displaying Jonathan’s art work.

Working with Chinle Planting Hope, Rotarians worked side-by-side painting, hammering, repairing to transform shipping containers into a Thrift Store where basic items (donated/ gently used) and books are available for nominal purchase.

Rotarians assisted with cataloging over 10,000 books for a lending library-on-wheels (bookmobile) that is now open to all community members, families and students and also has a weekly schedule of bringing books to nearby community centers and schools (that have no libraries).

The Bookmobile, magazine subscriptions, and Thrift Store daily benefit all members of the Navajo communities especially children and their families.

Volunteer prepares for a day opening the Chinle Planting Hope bookmobile. In just a couple days, over 200 children signed up for bookmobile library cards.

Rotarians from two clubs, Glenwood Springs Noon and Sunset, participated by sorting donated clothes and household items and then transporting all donated items to Chinle, Navajo Nation. During a “work weekend” Rotarians rolled up their sleeves and worked on-site with Navajo community members to catalog books, paint shipping containers, build shelves, prepare food baskets for elders, read to preschool children, and prepare food for volunteers. During the festive celebration in June, Rotarians helped prepare food and give-away items, encouraged visiting children to participate in art and literacy activities, talk with visiting Navajo authors and illustrators, and choose a book to keep as their own.

Reading Bugs for Lunch interactively with students as a part of Chinle Planting Hope.

Board books and stuffies were irresistible for this young child.

Other Rotarian groups who helped to collect donated books:  East Colorado Springs, Florence, Freemont, Delta Durango, Castle Rock High Noon, and the Vail clubs.