In a world increasingly shaped by technology — especially in education — community leaders in Lakewood believe there is still no substitute for a child reading a physical book.
On Monday, March 2, families gathered at the Cove Community Center to celebrate reading, literacy and community connection during the city’s local take on Read Across America Day.
Read Across America Day is celebrated annually March 2, the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. In Lakewood, the youth service group H2O (help to Others) hosted Read Across Lakewood, a free community event designed to make reading interactive and accessible for all families.
It was aimed to create a welcoming environment where families could simply show up, enjoy themselves and leave with books in hand.
Inside Cove Community Center, kids rotated through several book-themed activity stations where they played with Play-Doh, made birthday cards for Dr. Seuss and participated in reading activities with H2O high school volunteers.
“I hope this introduces kids to books more and, like, tries to encourage them to read, since they’re a lot of kids nowadays who are really into electronics and videos.” Said Bre Bufford, one of the H2O volunteers.
In addition to crafts, families could visit one-on-one reading stations, listen to guest readers, pose for photos at a backdrop and have a police officer read to them. Every child who attended received at least one free book to take home, ensuring that the celebration extended beyond the afternoon’s activities.
Organizers said the event addresses more than literacy alone; they hope it strengthens relationships among families and reinforces that the community center is a supportive, welcoming space.
“I think it gives, hopefully, families connection to one another, to the community center … I hope that they get a feeling of being taken care of while they’re here,” said Emmie Hutchison, H2O coordinator.
“Of course, we always want to be promoting reading and literacy, so all the kids will go home with a book — at least one book. The Friends of Lakewood Library have made sure of that,” she said.
Kelsey Gray, who attended with her child, said events like Read Across Lakewood are important because not all families have equal access to books or high-quality reading materials. By offering free books and interactive activities, she said, organizers help expose children to stories they might not otherwise encounter.
“I think because not everybody has access to books and quality books, it’s good to be able to hear stories and find stories that you might not have thought about reading before,” Gray said.
High school volunteers said they hope the event encourages kids to explore different genres and see reading as something enjoyable rather than an obligation.
“It’s pretty much trying to get a bunch of kids together and introducing them to different books and different activities of books, and just trying to get them to read more,” said Bufford.
The event also aligns with H2O’s broader mission of youth service and community engagement. Organizers said the program aims to provide high school students with opportunities to serve, reflect and grow while meeting needs in the community.
“H2O is really to serve youth in Lakewood, to offer an opportunity to serve and to learn about the needs of the community, to grow personally as they kind of reflect on the difference that they’re able to make,” said Hutchison.
As families left with books tucked under their arms, organizers said they hope the impact of the day lasts long after March 2, inspiring children to open those books at home and discover that reading can be both meaningful, fun, and so much more than an activity to do in school.
