Harvest Youth Board helps children hop into literacy at Books and Bunnies Event

On Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is scheduled for March 30, 2024. 

 

Building on the success of last year’s event, which drew an attendance of over 700 individuals with over 400 books distributed, the Harvest Youth Board eagerly anticipates welcoming community members once again. This free event, for children 12 years and younger,  not only celebrates the joy of reading but also provides an opportunity for families to engage with various local youth-serving organizations and resources. Every child attending receives a free age-appropriate book.  Face painting, inflatables, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and balloon animals are a few of the fun activities planned for the day. Food trucks will also be on-site.

 

Nayti Patel, Harvest Youth Board chair, said, “The (Harvest Youth) Board wanted to create an initiative that would combine literacy and fun. Books and Bunnies is an opportunity to show that reading is fun by providing free books coupled with other engaging activities like egg hunts and face painting.”

Two egg hunts are scheduled, one commencing at 11:30 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m., during which 26,000 eggs will be evenly distributed. Magic “Harvest Eggs” will be hidden during each race. The children who discover these green sparkly eggs will be awarded a special basket filled with a book and other goodies.  

 

This event can only be made possible with exceptional volunteers. Each year, approximately 45 individuals, mostly under the age of 18, volunteer with the Harvest Youth Board to make the event happen. Volunteer tasks include setting up the egg hunts, distributing books, and monitoring event activities.

 

According to Ava Grant, Harvest Youth Board vice-chair and special events committee chair, “The Harvest Youth Board organizes Books and Bunnies to shed light on youth-serving organizations within the community and to spread awareness about the importance of reading and early learning. Books and Bunnies continues to grow every year. We cannot wait to see the smiling faces of local children during the event!”

 

To find out more about the Harvest Youth Board, visit https://www.harvestyouthboard.org. 

 

About the Harvest Youth Board:

The Harvest Youth Board was created in June 2015 to develop projects and initiatives important to young people in Martinsville-Henry County, and to advise the Harvest Foundation Board of Directors on issues relating to youth. The board is supported by the Harvest Foundation. Grants are available to nonprofits in Martinsville-Henry County for up to $5,000. To find out more about the Harvest Youth Board, visit https://www.harvestyouthboard.org.