After that conversation, Katrina Walton, One Church One School Coordinator for CCTOF, worked closely with the church administration, Men's Ministry, Youth Ministry and Communications Team to make the event happen. The date of the event coincided with the end of the school year and beginning of the summer break. The hope was that by giving the students books as the summer break began, they would be more likely to maintain and improve their reading skills. Walton enlisted the Men's Ministry to build the bookcases while the Youth Ministry painted the bookcases. Even though this was the church's first time hosting this type of reading fair, the planning team was hopeful that it would be a success.

According to Walton, the reading fair exceeded those expectations. "I feel the Reading Fair was a huge success. Not only because of the number of children we were able to serve in the community but being able to provide the foundation for the children to reach higher heights in their life."

Smiles of joy on the faces of the students and their parents indicated that this event, one of CCTOF's community outreach events, achieved its goal of touching the community. One of the planning team members and reading fair volunteers, Rev. Lisa Butler, an ordained minister at CCTOF, echoed Walton's comments. Butler said that she would like to see this project spread out to other schools in the church area, as well as the community next year.  Walton added, "It was a great event. I look forward to doing it again."

Shewanda Riley

Literacy Connexus Board of Directors