Matthew Bald, a Scout with Venture Crew 315, recdently donated more than 1,500 books to DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC) at the New Orleans East health center, 5630 Read Blvd. The books will be used for DCHC’s Read for Your Health program.
An initiative of Reach Out and Read, Read for Your Health makes literacy promotion a standard part of primary care. DCHC’s providers “prescribe” age-appropriate books to patients, from infants to age six, during pediatric well-visits, in order to stimulate early brain development and build children’s mental muscles. Older children select a book to take home with them after each health center visit.
“We take great pride in providing opportunities to promote creative and intellectual growth as part of our commitment to holistic care. Children love to have a book in hand and to interact with it. Our literacy program enriches everyone’s life and imagination, from infants through adult life. We continue to seek ways to encourage the whole family to read,” said Sister Bonne Hoffman, DCHC’s vice president for mission integration. “We thank Matthew and other members of his crew for their generous donation and their enthusiasm for reading.”
The project helps fulfill requirements for Matthew to receive the Summit Award, which serves as the highest award for youth in the Venturing program of the Boy Scouts of America. It requires Venturers to earn the Pathfinder Award, participate in adventures, and demonstrate leadership, service, and personal growth.
Matthew, a senior at Northshore High School in Slidell, plans to major in veterinary medicine upon graduation. He enjoys leading community outreach efforts on behalf of Venture Crew 315.
“I’m an avid reader, and upon learning how this program impacts young readers, I became excited, and thought that soliciting books to support it would be something great to do,” said Matthew. “I initially thought that I’d receive about 200 books donations, but thankfully it swelled to more than 1,500. I’m really happy that the community supported this effort in a big way.”