By Brendan Rees
It’s considered one of the most important aspects of developing a child’s mind.
And a thanks to the help of a charity, more children starting school in Casey will be given a head start in reading.
The Aiding Casey Education (ACE) Foundation led by Cranbourne GP Dr Leon Shapero purchased 3,000 books to make sure every prep student had a reading book.
ACE administrator Teresa Muratore and Dr Shapero visited schools in Casey recently and were surprised to learn many youngsters had never come into contact with a book.
Ms Muratore said the books would now be given to every child who may not have easy access to books; providing them with greater opportunities to kick-start their learning development.
“ACE Foundation can help local students live the life they dream and ensure kids can see and read,” she said.
“We at ACE are extremely proud and we would like to raise awareness and the benefits that each program provides not only to the students but to our community as a whole.”
Since last year, the Foundation has also provided free eye testing to primary school children and will pay for glasses if they require them.
“The program has been a major success and fortunately ACE Foundation is in a position to extend the reach of this program to all primary schools students at 43 schools,” said Ms Muratore.
In the next coming months ACE Foundation together with Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre will be running ‘Feed Hungry Minds’ – Inspiring Hope Campaign.
“It will run for approximately 4 weeks. We will have donation bins placed at community locations where we ask residents in the City of Casey to donate Up and Go meal replacements to be distributed to 12 local Secondary Schools,” Ms Muratore said.
Each month the Foundation delivers 2,500 meal replacement drinks to schools for children who arrive at school without having breakfast or a prepared lunch.
“The feedback we have received from the teachers involved in the program is overwhelmingly and very positive.”
Locations of the bins will be announced in the coming weeks.
