Members of the former Sanford/Lee County Youth Council donated more than 900 books to two local elementary schools this week.
Disbanded in 2018, the Youth Council hosted the Race to Read 5k annually from 2012 to 2017 to promote literacy and raise funds to buy reading materials for Lee County schools. Funds from the event have been held in a trust until book purchases could be made.
During its tenure, the Sanford/Lee County Youth Council was very active at the local and state levels. Members conducted an annual downtown litter sweep, ran several drives for local nonprofits, produced a Citizens Guide Resource Book, participated in local government activities, and more. They also participated in the NC League of Municipalities' annual youth forum and worked with the North Carolina Youth Council.
Former co-advisors Karen Kennedy and Lesa Price and former Youth Council member Allegra Hogan visited Warren Williams Elementary School and W.B. Wicker Elementary School on Wednesday to present book donations.
Warren Williams received a variety of paperback books for grades K-3 on various topics including some on civics and government. W.B. Wicker will receive a set of hardbound books about each state and each U.S. president. Each book is marked with a special label indicating it was part of the Race to Read project.
In total, Race to Read 5k funds allowed Youth Council to donate more than 1,500 books since inception, including donations made in previous years.
View the list of sponsors and runners who made this donation possible here.
Read The Sanford Herald's coverage of the book donations here.