CHAMBER ENDORSES UNITED WAY READERS PROGRAM, TEACHERS GRANTS AWARDED AT BANQUET
Teachers Grant Recipients Stephanie Aarons-Dennison, Shannon Shipley, Laurie Miller and Kenta Stacy with Nat Shook, and Megan Schmidt of United Way of South-Central Illinois.
United Way of South-Central Illinois
618-242-8000
123 S. 10th St., Mt. Vernon, IL
United Way of South Central Illinois | United Way Worldwide
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce starts the “Chamber Gives Back” initiative and has selected the United Way Readers program as the first charity to highlight.
The program was formed following continual requests from teachers for books that are very much needed.
Teachers may request specific books through the United Way website, which are then delivered to the schools once the donation has been made. United Way also hosts Free Book Giveaway Days at their location for teachers to personally collect books.
The list of requested books may be found on the United Way’s website and Facebook page. Donated books may be delivered to 123 S. 10 th St., Suite 202 in Mt. Vernon, IL. Books may also be purchased through an online wish list.
Speaking about the program at the “Love Our Community” Annual Banquet at Kaskaskia College, Natalie Shook of United Way said, “A lot of our smaller schools don’t have libraries. The books that are in the classrooms aren’t books for those kids. We are working really hard to have book drives and donations for books, so we can those in the classroom.”
That same evening, Shook and colleague Megan Schmidt awarded four local educators with $500 grants as part of the United Way Teachers Grant Program, in partnership with the chamber’s education committee.
The recipients of the grants were Kenta Stacy of Central Middle School/Centralia Junior High School (CJHS); Laurie Miller of Centralia City Schools; Shannon Shipley of Centralia High School (CHS); and Stephanie Aarons-Dennison of the CHS Band.
The grants, presented at the banquet by Megan Schmidt and Nat Shook of United Way, will be used to enhance workforce skills, personal education, and student needs.
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce will continue to feature charities at chamber events to highlight ways that their members can donate, volunteer, and support our community organizations.
