BLADENBORO — Some Bladen County girls are “read”-y to improve literacy in the Mother County.

Girl Scouts of America Troop 4415 has been busy the past couple of weeks distributing books to local libraries.

“Many children don’t have access to books, or they don’t have someone who will sit down and read to them,” explained Tasha Autry, troop leader for the group of kindergartners and first-graders who make up the Dublin Daises. “The libraries around here do a lot of things for children, so we just wanted to help them out and do something good for the library to help with childhood literacy.”

A 2010 study by the University of Nevada-Reno found the greatest contributor to children’s educational success was not the parents’ income, nationality, or level of education, but the presence of books in the home.

Through their donation to local libraries, Dublin Daises participants can earn community service badges.

The outreach on the part of the Daises to spur literacy was part of a month-long celebration of the 106th birthday of the national Girl Scouts organization. Groups across the U.S. are participating in birthday parties — like the one the Daises held recently at the Dublin Fire Department — service projects, and group meetings.

“We’re trying to grow the Girl Scouts, and we’re growing by leaps and bounds in Bladen County,” Autry remarked. “People want it so bad(ly) in this area. It’s been amazing.”

People interested in participating in Dublin Daises can reach Autry by calling 910-633-4636. If not in the Dublin area, residents will be directed by Autry to the troop leader connected to a local school.

Financial scholarships are available for those in need.

The Dublin Daises troop is a member of the North Carolina Coastal Pines, an organization of Girl Scout troops in the eastern part of North Carolina. North Carolina Pines is led by Director Chris Lancaster.

Girl Scouts is comprised of 1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who help every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) be equipped to change the world.

Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163 or emailing ccarroll@bladenjournal.com.

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Chrysta Carroll

Bladen Journal