Retired educators continue gift of literacy

Mary Madison
Contributor

Education is arguably the most significant aspect for a successful, productive life in the universe. Having equal probability we can allege that reading is the heart of EVERY-thing we do.
Remarkably, after retirement several Jefferson County education advocates desired to continue their commitment to education, students and the community by joining the state-affiliated Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) in 1991.
Two premier projects of the organization are to provide encouragement to young students by supplying books to read and scholarships to students who aspire to a higher education. Volunteer action is requested of each FREA Unit, and for more than three decades, the Jefferson County Unit of FREA (JCREA) has awarded many scholarships to local youth. This year, the unit's members collected books for the third graders at Jefferson County K-12 (JCS). They placed personalized bookplates in Christmas wrapped, age-appropriate books and delivered them to JCS students on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022.
JCS Literacy Coach Kathy Corder greeted and escorted JCREA members Nancy Benjamin, President; Louiza Collins-Larry, Treasurer; Earlene Knight, Program Coordinator; and Mary Madison, Secretary/Public Relations Chairperson to the third grade wing of the school. The wagonload of books they had brought were issued to the third graders in the classes of Ms. Indy Mack, Team Leader; Mrs. Polly Days; and Mrs. Vickie McWilliams. Each student selected a book of their choice, mainly by the Christmas paper's wrapping.
JCREA members and persons who have an interest in education continue to adhere to the veracity of this statement: “To educate is to educate lives forever – while strengthening the fabric of communities, states, nations and the world.”
JCREA entreats any retiree to join the unit to help continue serving our youth, school personnel and community. Consider this: You don't buy a newspaper, you buy news; you don't buy a lamp, you buy light; and you're not buying membership in an organization, you're buying cooperation with others to help accomplish goals they cannot do alone. Join now! For information about JCREA or a membership application, call (850) 661-9674 or (850) 997-0422.