Four Rivers Early Learning Hub, in collaboration with Books for Kids Columbia Gorge, has awarded $7,000 in early literacy grants to local programs supporting young children. The funding, provided by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and the Birth to Five Early Literacy Program (BTFELP), will distribute nearly 1,600 books to more than 650 children aged birth to five in Hood River and Wasco Counties.
The grant recipients include:
- Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) in Hood River and The Dalles
- Mid-Columbia Children’s Council
- The Next Door Inc., Family Services Home Visiting
- Kiddie City (Parkdale & Cascade Locks)
- Nana’s Daycare and Yoyo’s Daycare
- Native American/Migrant Education at Columbia Gorge Educational Services District (CGESD)
Shira Skybinskyy, Director of Four Rivers Early Learning Hub, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “This effort reflects our dedication to early literacy and ensuring every child, no matter their background, has access to high-quality books.”
Both Four Rivers Family and Books for Kids highlight the critical role of early book exposure in building strong reading skills and fostering a lifelong love of learning. By partnering with local organizations, they aim to close literacy gaps and create more educational opportunities for children in the community.
This initiative is a step toward ensuring that all children in the region have the tools they need to succeed in their early learning journeys.
