Little Silver School District "Read-A-Thon" Aids Japan

The Little Silver public school district is hosting a “Read-A-Thon” to collect money for the disaster in Japan. Superintendent Carolyn Kossack sent out a letter to parents explaining the relief effort on March 21, which encourages all students of the district to get involved.

The “Read-A-Thon” will be taking place from Wednesday, March 23 through Friday, April 1, and participation is voluntary. Students will be in charge of maintaining a reading log for the necessary ten days; friends and family will be asked to pledge money based on the amount of time students read, although flat dollar donations will also be accepted. 

 The district held a similar “Read-A-Thon” last year in an effort to support the tragic earthquake in Haiti  which left an estimated 316,000 people dead and 1.8 million people homeless.

 “Tragically, fast forward one year.  On March 11, a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred near the northeastern coast of Japan, creating extremely destructive tsunami waves which hit Japan just minutes after the earthquake," Kossack said. "The earthquake and tsunami have caused extensive damage in Japan, leaving thousands of people confirmed dead, injured or missing, and millions more affected by lack of electricity, water and transportation.”

 Since the district does not encourage young children going door-to-door asking for donations, the “Read-A-Thon” was re-introduced in an effort to help out Japan by encouraging Little Silver students to read. 

For the younger students, parents are asked to get involved by reading to their child and  than logging the appropriate time read on the student log-sheet. 

 The Little Silver public school district is offering three different organizations to support, all of whom are sending relief to Japan:

• The American Red Cross is providing assistance in affected areas through mobile medical clinics, as well as assessing the damage and needs of the communities affected.  
•  United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) works to support children, their survival, development and protection. 
• GlobalGiving has been working with the International Medical Corps, Save the Children and other organizations on the ground in Japan. 

Kossack urges parents to inform the sponsors of which organization they will be donating to. Once the “Read-A-Thon” has ended, please send one check, made payable to the charity chosen, to your child’s homeroom teacher on Monday, April 4. 

The checks will than be sorted and sent to the appropriate charities. (Please do not send cash!)

 For a copy of the pledge sheet and the student log click here .