The Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department are partnering with the Seattle Public Library for a summer reading program aimed at increasing literacy, and raising awareness of home fire safety and school safety. Today at 1:30 p.m., firefighters and police officers read to two dozen children (K-2) at the South Park branch of the Seattle Public Library, 8604 8th Avenue South.
For more than a decade, Seattle Firefighters have volunteered for literacy events at various Seattle Public Library’s and Seattle Public Schools. Now firefighters are joining with the Seattle Police Department and Mayor Mike McGinn’s efforts to motivate community members to read to children. As part of the Mayor’s Youth and Families Initiative, the City is engaging volunteers in assisting early readers meet grade level expectations and improve proficiency on the Washington State Reading Exam.
Firefighters from Fire Station 26 read from “No Dragons for Tea”, a humorous story that teaches children the need for a simple home fire safety plan. One of the firefighters that participated in the event is bilingual (English/Spanish) and interacted with Spanish speaking families during the story time.
Seattle Police Community Outreach officers read from “How Do Dinosaurs Go to School”, a book that shows kids in a fun way how to how to be safe in the classroom.
On September 24, 2010, Mayor Mike McGinn launched Seattle’s Citywide Service Plan which included volunteer initiatives focused on mentoring and improving third-grade literacy rates.
