To boost literacy and inspire a love of reading among local children, OUC partnered with nonprofit Lift Orlando to host a series of education events, Need to Read, at the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center in Orlando.
Alandus Sims, Strategic Partnership and Projects Manager, talks to the audience about the Empowerment Zone, as well as OUC programs.
It’s an effort with long-lasting impact. Children who develop reading skills early in life gain strong communication skills, perform better in school and experience improved self-esteem.
The events, which took place June 11 and July 23 (another is planned for October 15), featured speakers from the Orange County Library System, Orange Center Elementary School, AdventHealth, JPMorgan Chase, Need to Read and Lift Orlando. An instructor from The Educators Collective went over reading activities parents can do at home and even hosted a story time. Representatives from the Adult Literacy League were also in attendance to share available services for adult learners.
During his presentation, Alandus Sims, Strategic Partnership and Projects Manager, highlighted OUC’s commitment to the community with the Empowerment Zone through its three pillars: education, health and wellness, and sustainable housing. He also reviewed the various services OUC provides to its customers, such as Efficiency Delivered.
The participants in Need to Read, about 50 parents and kids at each event, went home equipped to continue their reading journey. Those younger than five received five to seven books, as well as literacy kits packed with multisensory items designed to engage kids with reading. Older kids were given backpacks stocked with school supplies.
Nichole Krause, Senior Business Support Specialist, assists with an educational activity.
OUC employees Regina Frazer, Quality Control Analyst, Nichole Krause, Senior Business Support Specialist, and Chuvala Snell McFarlane, Senior Buyer, were volunteers at the second event. The team assisted with greeting and checking in participants, and also helped manage the Creativity Learning Corner, which is where young readers took part in interactive activities meant to strengthen vocabulary.
“Volunteering at this early literacy event reminded me how pivotal these moments are for our littles,” said Krause. “Every story time is an investment in a child’s future. Without early engagement like this, too many children risk falling behind, not just in school but in confidence and opportunities. Supporting early literacy isn’t just a good deed; it’s a lifeline to a different, brighter future.”
