Rotary Club celebrates Dr. Seuss birthday at Paine

Following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotarians were pleased to return to Paine Elementary to distribute Dr. Seuss books to the students in March.

Since 2013, this group from the Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club has worked hard to instill the love of reading by regular reading sessions with local students. Several members of the Club give their time every Wednesday morning to help these students improve their reading skills by listening while the students read to them, or by reading to the students.

Mary Jean Sanspree, an active member of the Rotary Club, came up with the idea of presenting books to the children annually around the time of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, which is March 2. 

“The kids are always so excited to have their very own Dr. Seuss books,” she said. “It is great to see the smiles on their faces as each one opens his or her book.”

Rotarian Fran Aldridge now coordinates the program and said, “We are always looking for readers. We need more readers to meet the needs of more kindergarten classes.” 

Rotarians helping out with this book distribution were Aldridge, David Cork, Renee’ LeCroy, Sanspree, Jeremy Tuggle and Van Horne.

For several years, Betty Cork has also made Dr. Seuss-themed aprons for each of the participating teachers.

– Submitted by Diane Poole.