Sparky is back and giving away free books to children in Central Oregon all summer long

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KTVZ) — The book trailer “Fireflies SPARKY!” has begun distributing free books to children in Central Oregon throughout the summer in an effort to prevent the learning loss some students experience while out of school.

SPARKY!, a 6-foot by 10-foot trailer commissioned with support from the SELCO Steps Up community donation program, made its first delivery Friday afternoon at Redmond High School.

Fireflies – a community outreach program of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon – partners with SELCO staff, NeighborImpact, and the Bend-La Pine and Redmond school districts to deliver and distribute books to children in parks and schools across Central Oregon. Any student in kindergarten through fifth grade can pick up a book at the events, which are held in partnership with the NeighborImpact Mobile Food Pantry.

Fireflies promotes literacy and study skills in children through fifth grade. The nonprofit believes that combating “summer lag,” a term coined when students lose knowledge during the months-long summer vacation, is one of the most effective ways to keep children on track for their educational milestones.

“It’s probably no surprise, but research shows that summer reading is a simple and effective way to maintain and even improve important literacy skills,” said Olivia Sorensen, senior community development specialist at SELCO. “With SPARKY!, Fireflies is addressing this need head-on and ensuring kids are ready to hit the ground running when school starts again. As a credit union founded by educators nearly a century ago, SELCO has supported education from the beginning – and Fireflies is an incredible partner in this work.”

Over the past three summers, SPARKY! has delivered books to 724 children in Central Oregon. In addition to book deliveries, Fireflies initiatives include a summer book bag program at partner schools in Bend, Redmond and La Pine, as well as strategically placed school libraries on school campuses.

“‘Summer slump’ is a real problem for young students across Central Oregon,” said John Horwich, external fundraising coordinator for Fireflies. “Thanks to partners like SELCO, we are able to put books in the hands of hundreds of children each summer and make a difference in their education.”

SPARKY! will make eight stops in Central Oregon throughout the summer.

WHAT: SPARKY! The book trailer – free book distribution events

WHO: Fireflies and SELCO Community Credit Union

WHEN:

Friday, June 21: 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., Redmond High School

Friday, June 28, 3-4 p.m., Ridgeview High School

Friday, July 5, 3:00-4:30 p.m., Redmond High School

Thursday, July 9, 12-1pm, at Pine Nursery Park

Friday, July 19, 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., Redmond High School

Friday, July 26, 3-4 p.m., Ridgeview High School

Friday, August 2, 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., Redmond High School

Friday, August 16, 3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., Redmond High School

For more information: uufco.org/fireflies.