LUMBERTON — The North Carolina Community Foundation recently awarded a $1,000 grant to the Children’s Health of Carolina Foundation to help support childhood literacy in Robeson County.

Pembroke Pediatrics and Lumberton Children’s Clinic, both divisions of Children’s Health of Carolina, will utilize the grant.

The money will be used to buy books for the Reach Out and Read program at each office. The program is supported by medical providers who promote early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by integrating children’s books and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

Last year, Lumberton Children’s Clinic and Pembroke Pediatrics gave more than 6,000 books to children at office visits.

The program targets children 6 months old to 5 years old and sends a child home with a book at each visit. There are also books available in Spanish and translators are in the office to help providers educate Spanish-speaking parents.

The Robeson County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation, works to expand charitable giving, strengthen nonprofits and enhance the vitality of the local community. To learn more, visit NCCommunityFoundation.org/Robeson.

For information about the Reach Out and Read program, visit ReachOutAndRead.org.

The Children’s Health of Carolina nonprofit foundation was established to support educational initiatives focused on early childhood literacy as well as childhood obesity.

Children’s Health of Carolina has offices in Fayetteville, Lumberton, Pembroke and Raeford. The organization also operates a clinic, Robeson Child Health Plus, at the Robeson County Health Department, and has a pediatrician at Southeastern Regional Medical Center during the week.

Courtesy photo | Lumberton Children’s Clinic patient Angelina Villegas Rodriguez, reads a book with provider Ann Bell, a nurse practitioner, and interpreter Donna Ozuna as a part of the Reach Out and Read program. Children’s Health of Carolina was recently awarded a grant to buy books for the program.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Pediatrics.jpgCourtesy photo | Lumberton Children’s Clinic patient Angelina Villegas Rodriguez, reads a book with provider Ann Bell, a nurse practitioner, and interpreter Donna Ozuna as a part of the Reach Out and Read program. Children’s Health of Carolina was recently awarded a grant to buy books for the program.
Children’s Health offices giving out books

Staff report