Children who read books to a local barber have received a
free haircut as part of a community event in Dubuque to help families prepare
for the upcoming school year.
Barber Courtney Holmes traded the tales for trims on
Saturday during the second annual Back to School Bash in Comiskey Park.
Tayshawn Kirby, 9, of Dubuque, read from “Fats, Oils and
Sweets,” by Carol Parenzan Smalley, informing Holmes that the average person
eats 150 pounds of sugar each year. Before Tayshawn’s 10-year-old brother,
Titan Feeney, took his turn in the barber chair, he told his brother the new
look was great.
“I just want to support kids reading,” Holmes said.
St. Mark Youth Enrichment gave away books during the event,
some of which were read to Holmes. Outreach coordinator Beth McGorry with St.
Mark said she enjoyed watching Holmes help young children sound out the words
they didn’t know yet.
Caitlin Daniels, grade-level reading coordinator with the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, also helped struggling readers in the
barber chair.
“It’s great. All the kids, they want to have a good haircut
to go back to school,” she said. “They’re paying through reading.”
The city’s acting resource manager, Anderson Sainci,
coordinated the event, which involved nonprofits and other community partners.
More than 100 people learned about free resources and
before- and after-school opportunities available to families and students. The
first full day of classes in Dubuque is Sept. 1.
Source : Worldtruth.tv