wilkes

Book Drive for Hispanic Kids in North Carolina Mts.
Alida Cardo (is a first generation American whose parents fled from
Cuba and was born in Florida) is organizing a book drive to get books
in the hands of young Latino children in the NC Mountains.

Alida Cardo came to North Carolina with her family to get a college
education in the past. Alida Cardo received a BA in Political Science
from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1998. Moreover, her daughter Aleli Elena
Cardo-Clarens was born right here in Wilkes County and this motivated
Alida as parent to be concerned with literacy issues!
The book drive is to promote literacy among Latino children and help
non English speakers begin to learn English as well.
Among the new 4 years old entering Wilkes County Public Schools in
NC there are 75% non English Speaking Hispanic children. There are
almost 5% of the children in Wilkes county who are Latino and many of
these are non English speaking.

Alida is contacting groups all over the area and region to
contribute new and used books in English, Spanish and bilingual to partner
with Smart Start in Wilkes County. Donated books can be given
directly to Smart Start in Wilkes at 1006 F. Street, North
Wilkesboro, NC. These books will be distributed in the many literacy
programs for Latino children in Wilkes County.
The Appalachian State University Hispanic Student Association has
also stated they will collaborate in this book drive to get books in
the hands of children in the area.
Wilkes Literacy is also participating as a partner to distribute
books.

Please call 336-838-0977 at Smart Start to join in the effort to
jumpstart literacy in Wilkes County for non English speaking
children.