TORC Book Reading and Donation to the Family Support Center
Making a Difference, One Book at a Time! #SMILESwithTORC
TORC celebrated his 13th birthday by donating 300 children’s books and coloring books to the First Family Center in Port Angeles.
TORC is the One of a kind CAT, with two book series in work: TORC the CAT discoveries and TORC the CAT short stories.
TORC was rescued in 2009 from an animal shelter in Washington State, USA. His curiosity and his loving nature inspired NONA to create her TORC the CAT character.
Why is TORC donating his books to Little Free Libraries and Nonprofit Organizations around the country? Because he believes all children from all backgrounds should have easy access to books year-round at home.
Why does having access to even a relatively small set of books seem to make such a big difference? The U.S. Department of Education maintains that independent reading is a widely recognized precursor to:
• Better skills acquisition
• Superior grades
• Desirable life related to income, profession, employment, and other attributes.
More than 40 million Americans live below the poverty line, and of those facing such financial hardship, children are disproportionately affected. Nearly 12.6 million children under age 18 live in households with poverty level income.
Not only are children at higher risk of poverty, they are also especially vulnerable to poverty's harmful effects, both in the immediate and long-term. Childhood poverty can negatively impact brain development and has been linked with a greater likelihood of chronic illness, shorter life expectancy, and poor emotional and behavioral health. Those who spend some or all of their childhood in poverty are also less likely to succeed in school or be financially secure later in life.
Since 1972, First Step Family Support Center supports parents in their crucial role, offering maternity support, parenting education classes, home-visiting programs, and center-based activities so that families have the advantage in raising healthy and happy children. Learn more about their efforts at: https://firststepfamilysupportcenter.org
“Parents as Teachers promotes the optimal early development, learning, and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers so that all children will learn, grow and develop to realize their full potential.”
