On the 24^th October, the Dymocks Literacy Foundation launched its partnership with Mingara Recreation Club on the Central Coast to help the children on their local area fall in love with reading. Bryce Courtenay, patron for the Foundation attended and launched the initiative (pictured) for the Foundation.

After identifying a problem with children’s literacy in the area, Mingara approached the DLF to establish a significant literacy program in the local area. Through this partnership we hope to combine our expertise in literacy with Mingara’s local knowledge to ensure that local kids reap the rewards of our efforts. 

One aspect of the program, “Mingara Reads to Kids” (MRK Club) will see staff and member volunteers specially trained to read to children at schools in need.  We visited Wyong Grove Public School where each of the children in years 2, 3 and 4 were given three books each in a back pack to take home, whilst the school library received copies of the nine books. The school children were visited by two of the Central Coast Mariners, Nigel Boogaard (pictured below) & Andre Gumprecht who read to the children and presented the books. The Kids will even be encouraged to write book reviews with a selection to be published in the local newspapers on a regular basis with the published reviews will each receive a $20 Dymocks gift voucher.

Initially seven schools have been selected by Mingara including: Brooke Avenue Public School, Gorokan Public School, Northlakes Public School, The Entrance Public School, Wyong Public School and Yarramalong Public School.

Rob Carlton, Ambassador for the DLF, attended Mingara’s 35^th Birthday Celebrations to promote the program and to encourage members to support the initiative. Mingara Club Members that may not have time to get involved in the volunteer reading program, can still get behind the project by using points earned through the club’s loyalty programme to buy books for donation to the community at large, maximising the impact of the program.  Mingara have announced that they will match each and every book donated by members with another which will be distributed to local public schools, hospitals and childcare libraries, giving kids all over the Central Coast an opportunity to fall in love with reading.