Pictured, left to right: Justin Mann, Jamey Dye, Comey King, Eric Wood, Jim Ireland, and Shawn Kurrelmeier-Lee
COS Business Products and Interiors donated approximately 1,200 books to the Hamilton County Read 20 program. Over the summer months, the company dispatched delivery trucks and vans to various businesses throughout the County with collection boxes. Businesses encouraged workers to bring copies of the books they enjoyed reading as children or gently loved books to be given out to Hamilton County children.
This is the latest project for the company as a means to give back to the community that has been their home for the last 76 years, officials said.
Company CEO Skip Ireland said, “One of the greatest gifts a child can be given is the gift of being able to read.
It was our hope that children throughout Hamilton County would enjoy many of the same books that we enjoyed growing up. Our delivery team went after this effort with a great deal of gusto to see who could collect the most books for Read 20. We’re pleased with the effort and look forward to assisting in the future.”
MORE
Hamilton County Chief Reading Officer Shawn Kurrelmeier-Lee noted the difference the gift of books will make for Read 20. “Reading to a child allows us to share our favorite stories; however, having a child read to us, allows that child to expand his vocabulary, put sentences into context and develop an understanding of story concepts. Reading aloud engages children and adults in speaking and listening to one another, which encourages the love of reading through an exchange of ideas and storytelling. Imagine a child building his or her own library of favorite books to be shared with younger siblings or handed down to a next generation of readers. That’s just what COS’ gift has done for us and we’re very appreciative.”