One of our United Way of Mid Coast Maine Community Goals is "Children are read to from birth."  Sharing stories, songs, and books with infants and young children help prepare children to learn to read and to succeed in school and beyond.  Reading with young children also provides times for parents and child to bond, and it is FUN!  
Our United Way promotes early literacy in multiple ways:
Community Read Aloud: We sponsor our annual Community Read Aloud event on the Anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birthday - on or around March 2 each year.  Each year, more than 200 volunteers read to nearly 4,500 Mid Coast children in elementary schools, child care centers, and Head Starts from Waldoboro to Brunswick.  Volunteers choose their own favorite book or books to share, and talk about how reading is a part of their daily life.  The visits usually take between 45 minutes and an hour total, and the teachers, children and volunteers all love this event!  To join the mailing list so you can become a Community Read Aloud Reader or to learn more about how your child care or school can participate, email Mary at United Way at mwallace@uwmcm.org. To sign up for the March 2, 2018 Read Aloud, click here.
Born Learning Trails:  Our United Way has worked with local communities and organizations to create Born Learning Trails in our region. Parents, young children, and groups can visit a trail to enjoy the outdoors and to combine movements with words.  A great way to promote using words and play.  Enjoy!
  • Bath: In City of Bath woods to the left of the main entrance of the Bath Area Family YMCA, 303 Centre Street, Bath.
  • Brunswick:  Next to the Soccer Fields at Lishness Park, Pine Tree Road, Brunswick.
Supporting Programs that Promote Early Literacy:  Our United Way has a long partnership with Tri-County Literacy, and we strongly support their "Read With Me" Family Literacy Program!  We also work with programs in our region where home visitors meet with families with newborns or young children, and among the activities done together in the home is reading with the young children.  Home visitors often leave a book with the family and can model ways to engage the young children in reading and singing.  Our United Way supports Maine Families programs at both Teen & Young Parent Program and The Opportunity Alliance, Early Head Start home visiting at Midcoast Maine Community Action, and Healthy Kids.  These programs are also partners in our Best Start Initiative to support families with young children!  Quality child care programs in our region also promote the importance of reading every day with children and integrate reading and pre-reading activities into their daily programs.  We support Bath YMCA Child Care, Family Focus, Central Lincoln County YMCA Child Care, and Coastal Kids.
A Great Partnership! 
Topsham Expresso Rotary Club sponsors a special Music at the Museum event each year to support Early Literacy in our community.  This delightful evening of entertainment and live and silent auction brings community members together to support our Community Read Aloud and other early literacy activities in the community.  We very much appreciate our wonderful partnership with this Rotary Club!  Thank you!