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Rotary Club’s Reading Is Fundamental program donates books to 20 Wichita Title I schools
Summary
District and Rotary Club representatives described a long‑standing partnership that distributes thousands of books annually to Title I elementary students; volunteers and literacy champions highlighted the program’s reach and volunteer staffing model.
The Wichita Board of Education on July 7 heard a district good‑news item highlighting a long partnership between Wichita Rotary Club and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) that serves 20 Title I elementary schools in the district.
Amanda Sharschall, identified as executive director of Elementary C and I, and David Hawkins, a Rotary Club volunteer and site coordinator, told the board the program distributes books to students and engages volunteers for classroom reading events. Hawkins said volunteers read to classrooms and return later to distribute books that students selected at an earlier book fair.
District figures cited by the presenters included 17,000 books distributed in the previous year to more than 8,600 students, about 150 volunteers and Rotary‑funded purchases supported solely by member contributions. Librarians at participating schools coordinate distribution and outreach, district staff said.
Why it matters: The program offers free books to children who may not otherwise have home libraries and supports district strategic goals around reading and literacy.
