4th Annual Chelsea Family Literacy Day November 7

The Chelsea Library will be the scene of the Fourth Annual Family Literacy Day this Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the downstairs Children’s Library.

Though hosted and sponsored in part by the Library, Family Literacy Day is a community wide event, with support from more than a dozen local agencies and seven local sponsors, all in support of the Raising a Reader program in Massachusetts.

“This has really become such a fun event and it is an event that draws a lot of young families and young children,” said Children’s Librarian Sarah Gay. “Each of the agencies that participates sets up their own activity table, a lot of the tables are geared toward activities for the children. Not to overlook, we also get several local people to volunteer as guest readers for the children throughout the event.

Participating agencies in this year’s Family Literacy Day include A Kangaroo’s Pouch, CAPIC Head Start, Chelsea-Revere Family and Community Network, the Chelsea Public Library, Girls Acknowledge Math, English and Science program, the Jordan Boys and Girls Club, Home Depot, Kool Smiles dental, the Lewis Lattimer Society, the Mass General Hospital Health Care Clinic’s Chelsea Reach Out and Read program, the Museum of Science and the Raising a Reader MA Program.

Sponsors of the event are Borders Logan Airport, Chelsea Community Cable, the Chelsea Housing Authority, Coprico, DM Sign, Kirshon Paint and Window Treatment, and McDonald’s at Chelsea Commons.

Essentially, the Family Literacy Day is an extension of the Chelsea Library’s partnership with Raising a Reader, which aims to bring a variety of high-quality children’s books into the homes of low-income families, who otherwise may not be able or willing to read to the their children and develop in them a love of reading.

Each year the Family Literacy day succeeds in reaching out to hundreds of Chelsea families, resulting in an access to books for scores of children across the city.

Other events being planned at the library on Saturday, in connection with the Family Literacy Day event include a visit by Clifford the Big Red Dog, face painting and arts and crafts. This year’s guest readers include Assistant Chelsea Schools Superintendent Mary Bourke, Juan Vega of Centro Latino de Chelsea, Police Chief Brian Kyes, Officer Sam Mojica and Jerry McHugh.