I Want to be A Forever Reader

In August 2020, I met a young girl when she walked through the front door of our school, told me her name, and shared that it was her first day of Third Grade and she did not know anyone.

In the following days and weeks, her story unfolded and I began to understand the gravity of her young life. In her eight years before meeting me, she was abused, neglected, and did not attend Kindergarten or First Grade.

Within a month, I petitioned the Department of Social Services to have this little girl live with our family. After overcoming numerous placement challenges, she was allowed overnight and weekend visits with our family. She began living with us full-time in December 2020.

Daily she vocalized that she hated reading and could not read because she did not attend Kindergarten. Her early childhood circumstances were far more complex, however, she realized "learning" created challenges and frustration.

In an attempt to "fill in the gaps" from her early childhood, we have poured our resources into her to provide her with the best medical care and learning opportunities possible. The Department of Social Services and the state of North Carolina do not contribute financially to her education, extracurricular programs, and daily care.

She continues to read below grade level and we recognize that closing this gap remains absolutely essential to ensuring a future that breaks the cycle of her childhood.

For the last two summers, I have asked DSS to allow her to attend an intensive residential Summer Program for children who have Dyslexia or profound reading challenges. This summer, 2023, she received approval to attend this Residential Summer Camp in the North Carolina mountains.

The camp is one of three accredited Orton-Gillingham Camps in the United States, providing intensive 1:1 reading instruction with certified instructors each day. The camp includes outdoor education, arts, and woodworking while focusing on building confidence and self-esteem. The camp costs $15,000 and attendees report a jump of 1-2 grade levels in reading. Please visit the website Camp Spring Creek to learn more.

Today, this 12-year-old wants to read and attempts to make improvements daily. We ask for your support in enabling her to attend the intensive camp this summer - anything you contribute will help make her dream of being a forever reader possible.

Thank you!