Books provide COMFORT & JOY to children in Western and Central New York this holiday! Thank you to teachers who make learning possible for all children during these challenging times. Thanks to all our volunteers and our partner Simon & Schuster for your continued support! Take Care and Be Safe!
During this time of COVID-19, our volunteer readers continue to give back to the community by connecting with children virtually.
Eileen Ludwig, Volunteer: Although I love being in the classroom and especially miss the kids and their hugs, the Zoom readings have been a positive experience.
I'm really impressed with the students and how they listen and stay engaged during the virtual read-alouds. One benefit to the virtual readings is that I can read to the classes simultaneously, allowing more time for discussions and questions about the stories. A favorite thing of mine about the virtual readings is that I can also share the reading with my daughter, Sarah. This could not have happened in the traditional setting. Sarah also added, "It was so much fun being able to see and connect with the kids!"
Through Zoom, the students were also able meet our 7 month old puppy, Holly. The kids and teachers were very excited to meet her! We both are looking forward to reading to the students again soon!
MESSAGE: From Tapestry Charter School - Ms. Jessica Lemke K Teacher
When my team and I found out our school would reopen, we were filled with excitement! However, during these unprecedented times, we knew there would be many changes. Our school decided not to allow any guests in the building for safety reasons, so we were nervous about our connection with volunteer readers from Ohana 100.
The Kindergarten team was thrilled to set up a Zoom session this month with Eileen Ludwig and her daughter Sarah, so that the opportunity for guest readers could continue across all four classrooms. The students love hearing someone else read to them other than their teachers! Eileen and Sarah read several books to the students and also engaged them in questions and comments about each book to build comprehension skills.
We are so grateful for our friendship with Ohana 100. There is no greater joy than seeing their smiling faces when they are being read to and when they receive new books! Thank you Ohana 100 and we cannot wait until our next Zoom! - Jessica Lemke and the Kindergarten Team
In preparation for summer, Principal Pavone from Prospect Elementary in Salamanca (Cattaraugus County) was able to pick up over 500 books for all her students to take home for summer. Be Safe and Happy Summer Kids GO! READ
On Tuesday Feb. 25, 2020 Newfane Elementary School in Niagara County hosted the 2nd Annual Aloha Books WNY with encouraging words and a warm Aloha from Ohana100 President Dr. David Mattson.
Aloha Books will be distributed to children across 8 counties throughout Western New York, just in time for National Reading Month in March.
Mahalo to Simon & Schuster, Newfane School District Superintendent Michael Baumann, Bart Schuler, Bernadette Seymour, Principal Holly Staley and staff for your continued support!
The Annual Massage For Literacy was on Saturday, September 7th at Galleria Mall. Students from NYIM gave massages all day to benefit children in Wester New York.
WNY GO! READ distributions started in February and volunteers are making their way around the region to deliver GO! READ books. Here are just a few photos of children that received their books.
Mahalo to our Ohana100 teen volunteers from Holland Middle School Joshua and Henry. Thank you for coordinating a campus book drive and for successfully collecting 150 books.
Joshua and Henry participate in many campus activities and they are also active members of the school‘s honor society. Mahalo to their school advisor Ms. Jennifer Suckow providing support to these teenagers and for also encouraging community service.
For their hard work and commitment to literacy, Ohana100 gifted free new books to all 8th graders at Holland Middle School. Congratulations and GO! READ
On Tuesday, February 12 WNY GO! READ campaign kicked-off in Newfane. The Newfane Elementary School kindergartners, Newfane Early Childhood Center students and Community Action Organization Newfane Students were the first children to receive their books in Western New York. LOCKPORT JOURNAL
Big Mahalo to Newfane Central School District for housing the 20,000+ books and for joining in our mission in getting kids throughout WNY excited about reading a book!
SPECIAL THANKS
Michael Baumann-Superintendent, Bart Schuler- Business Administrator, Holley Staley, Newfane Elementary Principal, Thomas Adams, Newfane Middle School Principal, Daniel Bedette, Newfane High School Principal, Danielle Hawkins, Newfane High School Principal, Newfane School District Staff, National Honor Society Club and Service Club.
Agri-Business Child Development Center Batavia Staff, Agri-Business Child Development Center Holley Staff, Bolivar-Richburg Elementary School Staff, Buffalo United Charter School Staff, Cattaraugus Wyoming County Head Start Programs- Ira Katzenstein & Staff, WIC Buffalo- Judette Dahleiden and WIC Dunkirk & Jamestown- Debra Felton.
Mahalo to all our volunteers: Abigail Sapecky, Agnes Lee, Alice Balcom, Amanda Sacco, Anna Lovell, Anthony Sherman, Asbury Point Seniors, Bernadette Seymour, Beth Banks, Britany Zastrow, Carolyn Larkin, Catherine Mattson, Cindy Ames, David Mattson, Sr., David Steggles, Dawson Nerber, Deanna Parker, Eileen Ludwig, Eleanor Naughton, Gretchen Harrington, James Leibring, Jenna Carmer, Jessica Martin, Jessica Shoemaker, Jody Dold, Jonah Wisniewski, Judith Dold, Julie Tretter, Kaitlin Beiter, Kerry Bumper, Kris DeGlopper-Banks, Laura Shocknesse, Lauren Seymour, Linda Crato, Linda Herrington, Marie Wolf, Mary Dixon, Megan Knoll, Meghan Kowalik, Michael Dolan, Michael Kearns, Mickie Kramp, Nina Burkard, Sadie Penwright, Sarah Milarski, Terry Branch, Tonia Jones, Tyler Wright, Victoria Herrington Wendy MacAvoy and William Clark.
Newfane National Honor Society Club and Service Clubs helped to prep and process WNY GO! READ for children across the WNY Region.
Thanks to the support of their advisors and school administrators for making this possible.
In December, NY KDWT youth volunteers organized a Holiday Special at Canterbury Woods Assisted Living Center. Great Performance Everyone!
In October volunteers promoted Ohana100 at the Amherst Senior Center Annual volunteer event.
In September, theNew York Institute of Massage held their Annual Massage-A-Thon to benefit Ohana100 at the Galleria Mall. MAHALO NYIM Team for your continued support!
Youth members of the Clarence United Methodist Church, Ruth Nightingale along with siblings, Noah, Aiden, Oliver and good friend Maddy decided to give back to the community by raising funds for a charity and set up a table at the Apple Festival in October. They chose Ohana100 as recipient of their hard work. Their generous donation will provide new books to children in our community. MAHALO to the Nightingale Team for your support and for believing in our mission!!
New York volunteers gathered for the annual luau. Mahalo to our volunteers for another successful year of service. Thank you for all that you do for children in WNY and Thank You for being part of our Ohana100 Team!!
Marie's Got A Good Story To Tell! These little toddlers couldn't help but listen to the story about the crickets and all the noise that they make. Marie kept their attention for two whole stories!!!! The children were happy and waited patiently to click on the cricket buttons themselves.
BELOW: Leonard's Got A Good Story To Tell! Just take a look at the faces of the children at the YWCA Head Start. What's going on with the dog? The children were very good listeners and they were also very happy to get their very own book. GO! READ YWCA Head Start
Brigitte, Carol, Marie and Rita joined the two hour drive down south to Bolivar-Richburg that borders Olean, and to a place that was once a pit stop for railroads going back to the 1880's. It's a small community of less than 3,000. Ohana100 to read and distribute books to Bolivar-Richburg Elementary for nearly 4 years.
Its never too early to start getting A GOOD GRIP ON A BOOK. Kids and their mothers at Priscilla enjoyed Valentine stories with our volunteers! Have a Happy Valentine's Day.
All students at West Buffalo Charter (WBC) received books from Ohana100, thanks to students who attended the WNY Children's Book EXPO . Yes! Those kids made it possible for the entire school to receive books for the 2nd year in a row. Volunteer Ms. Lorraine joined in the distribution and also read to all 60 kindergartners! WHOOOO HOOOO! Congratulations! GO! READ WBC
Ohana100 Ambassadors were able to spread the joy of giving this holiday with special books for their students. Volunteers traveled north to read with children in Newfane and far south to kids in Delevan. They also read with kids in Buffalo and far east in Holley. See the joy of giving in WNY. GO ! READ
WNY CHildren's Book EXPO was on Saturday, November 11 at the Buffalo Convention Center. The event featured over 40 authors from across the country and internationally. Ohana100 volunteers helped to distribute over 600 books to every child that attended the event. They were also able to meet the authors up close. Thank you to MSMD for this wonderful partnership and allowing Ohana100 to be part of this literacy event for the past 3 years. Thank you to all our volunteers for carving out time to spread the joy of reading on this day!
Ohana100 participates in the Annual Apple Festival hosted by Clarence United Methodist Church. This is one way we can spread the word about what we are doing for children in the WNY communities.
Volunteers Sandy, Brigitte, Rita, Marie, Catherine and Madison stopped by to help.
