Students in the Menands Union Free School District are helping families at the Ronald McDonald House while also boosting their own knowledge and skills.
Throughout November, students in grades Kindergarten through eight will read books and, in the process, raise funds for the charity through pledges and donations.
It’s the 28th year Menands students have taken part in the annual Read for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a region-wide literacy-based community service program that gives students the opportunity to use their individual skills and interests to support children and families served by RMHC of the Capital Region. For more information on the charity, go to https://rmhcofalbany.org/get-involved/read/.
Students collect sponsors, donations and pledges and track daily how many minutes they read and report it back to their class.
Students who raise $50 or more will win the chance to put a pie in the face of Principal Katheen Wylie. The classroom that raises the most money will win a party.
“This is a fun way for our students to increase their reading time while also helping the families of sick and injured children,” said Wylie.
Superintendent Jen Cannavo said teaching students the value of charitable acts is part of building a “whole” student.
“Projects like this give our scholars an opportunity to learn the value of charitable acts, and it also reinforces the need to be a part of the greater community, on a classroom-, school and regional basis,” she said.