Talk Story

Donations for a worthy cause.

POSTED BY: Cybersnark
UPDATED: Thursday, May 4, 2006 14:35
VIEWED: 878
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CYBERSNARK

Thursday, May 4, 2006 2:35 PM

Howdy, all.

Not sure if this'll be welcome, but I figure since Browncoats (and this forum's denizens in particular) are such a discerning and literate bunch, this might get some attention. Looking mainly for those with online stores, but anyone's welcome to spread the word.

For the past 7 months, I've been working with the Tri-County Literacy Council; it's an agency here in Cornwall, Ontario, that promotes literacy (and all the things that come with it). The particular part I'm involved in focusses on school-age children who are having trouble in school. Some of them have discipline issues, some have AD(H)D, some have "learning gaps" between parents and children (parents can't help because they themselves weren't adequately educated), others are just struggling with particular subjects (in particular, we've a lot of Middle-Eastern families who aren't big with the English and French). End of the school year's coming up, and with it, the end of this year's program.

We recently circulated a letter to community businesses that explains things far better than I will:

Quote:
Tri-County Literacy Council is a non-profit organization helping people to improve their literacy skills. We have successfully operated Homework Centres in the city of Cornwall for the past four years. Homework Centres are structured learning environments where parents help their children with their homework under the guidance and assistance of a facilitator and volunteer tutors. Refreshments are provided for the students before they settle down for forty-five to sixty minutes of homework help, followed by fun games, arts and crafts, or other activities. These activities provide additional learning opportunities, and sessions usually run for two hours in total. The homework centres are free for families who are registered, as our funding comes from government grants and donations from service organizations, community corporations, and businesses like yours.

Students participate in an incentive program where they earn "Brag Bucks" (play money) for successfully completing given academic tasks and for respecting the rules of the centre. The "Brag Bucks" program also teaches children how to use a bank book, count money, make change, and save money. Students will use their earned "Brag Bucks" to bid on items at our second annual Homework Centres Auction, to be held the last week of May 2006. The children have learned what an auction is, and are excited to be part of such a "grown-up" event.

Tri-County Literacy Council is proud of its young achievers and wants to reward them for their continued effort. However, in order to organize a successful auction for the children, we are asking for help, in the form of donations, from our local companies and corporations. Sponsoring a prize as simple as a basketball or a soccer ball can bring a smile to a child's face. Each family will receive a brochure recognizing the companies and corporations who have generously donated items to the auction. We have invited a professional auctioneer and local newspapers to help publicize our event and your donations.

Tri-County Literacy Council would greatly appreciate any donation your company could offer. Cash donations are tax-deductible, and will be used to purchase items from the donating store, thus boosting sales. Thank you for your time and consideration.

It says "local" businesses, but I'm a big believer in globalization. Besides, the Internet, as visually-oriented as it is, is an entire world that is only fully available to the literate and well-informed. A literal cyberspace, like "hyperspace," distinct from what must by comparison be dubbed realspace, and in which concepts of distance are vestigial modes of thought based on a different type of "space" entirely. Of all the toys in the world, words are probably the most fun, if you know how to use them (as evidenced by the simple fact of our Big Damn Fandom here).

FYI, at the moment we've already received ~30 items from around the town, including everything from comics to toys to b