Thursday, June 27, 2013

Computer Lab Generates Excitement in Saviefe-Deme, Ghana


A new computer lab is up and running in the rural village of Saviefe-Deme in Ghana. Classes are being offered for students of all ages.

The lab was created this past year by John Barber and Ghana ACT in partnership with Reader to Reader.

Reader to Reader donated refurbished Dell Optipex 720 computers and Ghana ACT transported them to Ghana and set up the lab.


This June, Reader to Reader donated three additional flat-screen monitors and we are working on donating a number of additional refurbished Dell computers.

The computer lab is located at the town’s middle school.

Reader to Reader’s Computer Donation program is run in partnership with Amherst College and provides refurbished Dell Optiplex computers and iMacs to schools and libraries throughout the United States and across the globe.

Monday, June 24, 2013

The Power of One!


A special thank you to Shane Chinburg and Ben Chamberlain for the mountain of books from their Power of One book drive held in Durham, New Hampshire. The two are students at Oyster River High School.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Norton Juster Visits Athena Program


Famous children’s author, Norton Juster, who wrote the children’s classic The Phantom Tollbooth, joined the Athena Program to talk about writing children’s books and the importance of reading to your children.

The week-long Athena Program works with teen mothers from Holyoke, Massachusetts and takes place on the campus of Amherst College.

The program combines poetry, family literacy, and healthy eating and cooking.

In addition to speaking to the young women, Norton autographed copies of his charming book, The Hello Goodbye Window.

The Athena Interactive Literacy Program is part of Reader to Reader’s DiscoverBooks Program, which receives generous support from Mary Ann Cofrin and the AEC Trust, the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, and PeoplesBank.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Athena Program Heads Into The Recording Studio


Reader to Reader’s Athena Interactive Literacy Program headed into the recording studio as the teen mothers in the summer program recorded their spoken word poetry.

The week-long Athena Program works with teen mothers from Holyoke, Massachusetts and takes place on the campus of Amherst College.

The program combines poetry, family literacy, and healthy eating and cooking.

Each of the participants took turns recording their poems, and some even incorporated beat-boxing and piano tracks in their work.


The Athena Interactive Literacy Program is part of Reader to Reader’s DiscoverBooks Program, which receives generous support from Mary Ann Cofrin and the AEC Trust, the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, and PeoplesBank.

A very special thank you to Northfire Recording Studio for the donation of the recording time.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Athena Program Combines Literacy With Cooking



Reader to Reader’s Athena Interactive Literacy Program launched its week-long workshop that combines poetry, family literacy, and healthy eating and cooking.

The Athena Program works with teen mothers from Holyoke, Massachusetts and takes place on the campus of Amherst College.

Chef Bill Collins conducts the healthy eating and cooking lessons and he’s always a big hit. Today’s lesson focused on the versatility of the egg for creating low-cost meals.

The first day also featured a poetry and spoken word workshop conducted by Reader to Reader staff person, Ophelia Hu.

The poetry will be recorded at Northfire Recording Studio on the second day of the program.



The teen mothers are students at The Care Center in Holyoke where they are working on receiving their G.E.D. diplomas.

“This is our fourth year running the Athena Program and we are so pleased to partner with The Care Center,” notes David Mazor, executive director of Reader to Reader. “We have tremendous admiration for The Care Center’s commitment to improving the lives of these young women and their children.”

The Athena Interactive Literacy Program is part of Reader to Reader’s DiscoverBooks Program, which receives generous support from Mary Ann Cofrin and the AEC Trust, the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, and PeoplesBank.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Thank You Whole Foods!



A special thank you to Whole Foods Market in Hadley, Massachusetts for the book drive they are running from June 3-9 on behalf of Reader to Reader.

Lots of wonderful books are being collected!

Going to Whole Foods? Bring a children’s book and drop it off on your way in!