All aboard!
The Friend to Friend group out of Shamrock is hosting a Reading Express event at Auxvasse Elementary School from 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, designed with a dual purpose of promoting literacy and bringing the community together.
Children and their parents from all over Callaway County are invited to attend Reading Express, which is centered around "The Little Engine that Could" - one of the books sent out through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program
"We're trying to promote literacy and to bring families in the community together through fun activities," said Friend to Friend vice president Patty West. "The Dolly Parton program is geared toward kids age 0 to 5, but we've invited all the way up to fifth grade to attend."
She said the group has worked to promote the event at area schools and daycares, and that Friend to Friend members are hoping that publicity will prompt a large turnout.
"We've got a lot of really nice things for the kids," West said. "We've made a train and we're going to have train rides, we'll have an obstacle course, a reading area, snacks and a craft table."
She said Friend to Friend is working to create more such events for the future, noting, "I think we need to reconnect with our neighbors and friends."
"We really want this event to be successful so we can do more," West said. "We've put so much heart and soul into it. I want people to come (to Reading Express) and say, "I'm not going to miss another event from them.'"