Factory grants good reading for kids

JULIA WADE

23 May, 2022

Following the latest cash-cycle from a local recycling op-shop charity, a close neighbouring school has been given the gift of the written word.

Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust (MCOST) announced the latest round of their grants on May 12, with more than $50,000 being gifted to 19 worthy community-focused recipients.

Included in the long list was Tomarata School, who received $2750 to help enhance their student reading by purchasing ‘a whole lot of new books’ for their structured literacy programme.

After Covid cancelled the school’s major annual fundraiser – Tomarata Fireworks Night in 2021, a much-anticipated event attracting hundreds of locals and visitors – principal Cherylene Neels says staff and teachers had been searching for other funding avenues.

“As a result of Covid-related school closures last year we were unable to do any fundraising, specifically our big fireworks night, and this has left us deeply reliant on the goodwill of our community and grants such as the Factory,” she says. “The students love the shiny new books and are making rapid progress already. To hear children say ‘I can read!’ is heart-warming.”

The school has received a limited amount of resources from the Ministry of Education for the structured literacy programme and teachers have gone through professional development to deliver the lessons, but were short on funds for the necessary books required.

“I am sure that the Factory has no idea how much impact and difference they have made by giving us this grant,” Neels says. “We are a little school in the middle of farm land with no town around us. The fact that a Mangawhai-based organisation has recognised and met our needs is amazing. We are deeply grateful.”

Factory shop manager, Honor Stratton, says it is thanks to the generosity of the community donating good quality items and shopping at the second-hand goods store that enables MCOST to support the school – ‘A big thank you to all of Mangawhai who support this wonderful cause’.

“We all know that funding for schools is minimal and it’s our absolute pleasure to be able to support the school on behalf of our community,” says Stratton. “We are so grateful for the work that the teachers and staff at Tomarata school do for our kids.”

Polishing up their reading skills, Tomarata School students love the ‘shiny new books’ bought thanks to the recent funding round from Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop. PHOTO/SUPPLIED