Target Store employees help promote reading
at Franklin School

 
Franklin School Principal Lisa Davis and Calumet City Target Store
Human Resources Executive Team Leader Tamiya Aurel unpack
books donated by Target.

Target volunteers Tiara Bradd and Charbene Fields read
to Franklin students during an October 16th
visit to the school.

Along with hundreds of dollars in books, a local retailer has given some priceless gifts to Franklin Elementary School and its students.

More than a dozen staff members from the Target store in Calumet City volunteered their time on Friday, October 16th reading to and making fall crafts with students at the Dolton school.
Their efforts were part of a Target/First Book-sponsored library makeover project.

Although Franklin’s Media Center did not need a makeover, Target donated $500 in books and store employees found other ways to help promote reading among students.
They read books and provided one-on-one assistance to youngsters as they made some simple fall decorations using paper plates, construction paper, glue, crayons, stickers, and artificial leaves.
They also planned to work with sixth-graders to landscape the school’s front entrance.

“The initiative combines our focus on education and local schools with team member volunteerism to create inspiring places where students will learn and grow,” Laysha Ward, community relations president, and Troy Risch, Target Stores executive vice president, said in a prepared statement.

Tamiya Aurel, executive team leader of human resources at the Calumet City store, said the donations and volunteer time at Franklin are part of the company’s commitment to helping schools in the community.
Franklin Principal Lisa Davis said she was contacted by Aurel about the book donation and volunteer campaign and asked whether the school wanted to participate. It was an offer Davis couldn’t refuse.

“Books,” she said, “are always good.”  “Reading is the foundation of all subject areas,” she said, adding the school’s work through the Success For All school wide reform program focuses on reading but extends to other areas of study as well, Davis said.

More than a dozen employees from the Calumet City Target store
volunteered their time to help promote reading
among Franklin School students.

Target volunteers helped students create some
fall decorations.