With the season of giving looming ahead, there is no greater gift than the gift of literacy.

This year Black Press has added the Victoria READ Society to its list of Pennies for Presents recipients.

B次元官网网址淚f you can read, you can go creative places in your head. If you canB次元官网网址檛, your life is what is in front of you,B次元官网网址� said Claire Rettie, executive director of Victoria READ Society.

The READ Society offers extra attention and help for children struggling with literacy or math.

B次元官网网址淵our world is very limited (without literacy),B次元官网网址� Rettie said. B次元官网网址淭here is a lot of research that kids who struggle (with reading) feel very isolated and more disconnected.B次元官网网址�

Funds donated from the Pennies for Presents campaign will help sponsor tuition for 80 students who attend programs via tuition assistance. Each year about 120 students are taught at the societyB次元官网网址檚 four Greater Victoria locations.

By helping youth in Victoria focus on their reading, writing and math skills, the society is helping improve the income and health of these children when they become adults.

B次元官网网址淲e are giving them a creative future and opportunities,B次元官网网址� Rettie said.

Rettie stressed the importance of identifying children who struggle with literacy as young as possible B次元官网网址� children have a much harder time learning if they canB次元官网网址檛 read by Grade 3.

Students on tuition assistance attend the program for 10 months. Most come twice a week.

B次元官网网址淲e have a continuous intake,B次元官网网址� Rettie said. Ss more money is donated, the society sponsors more children.

The teachers at the society create individual programs based on on strengths and interests of the students.

B次元官网网址淪ome kids are really good at listening and others are really good at looking at pictures and making stories up,B次元官网网址� Rettie said.

If a child is interested in rugby, Rettie said the teachers will base lessons on rugby using stories, pictures and games. B次元官网网址淚n our assessment we find something they are good at,B次元官网网址� Rettie said.

By supporting the Black Press Pennies for Presents campaign Rettie said, B次元官网网址淲hat you are doing is creating community. You are donating to your neighbourhood.B次元官网网址�

For more on the READ Society, see www.readsociety.bc.ca.

How you can help

B次元官网网址� Cash donations can be dropped off at Black Press head office, 818 Broughton St. and at the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette, 117-777 Goldstream Ave. in Langford.

B次元官网网址� For a list of businesses that are accepting donations, watch for notices in the Victoria B次元官网网址 and Victoria B次元官网网址 Daily.

B次元官网网址� Schools interested in participating can call 250-381-3633 ext. 269 or email kslavin@saanichnews.com.