Sparky is back, delivering free books all summer to Central Oregon children

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Fireflies SPARKY! book trailer has begun delivering free books to children around Central Oregon in a summer-long effort to prevent the learning loss that some students experience while away from school.

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

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

Fireflies helps foster literacy and learning skills for children up to fifth grade. The nonprofit believes that addressing the “summer slide,” a term coined for when students lose knowledge over the monthslong summer break, is among the most effective ways to keep children on the path toward educational milestones.

“Probably no surprise, but research shows that summer reading is a simple and effective way to maintain—and even grow—critical literacy skills," said Olivia Sorensen, senior community development specialist for SELCO. "With SPARKY!, Fireflies addresses that need head-on, ensuring kids hit the ground running when school rolls back around. As a credit union founded by educators nearly a century ago, SELCO has supported education since the beginning—and Fireflies is an incredible partner in that work.”

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

“The ‘summer slide’ is a real concern for young students across Central Oregon,” said John Horwich, external fundraising coordinator for Fireflies. “Thanks to partners like SELCO, we can get books in the hands of hundreds of children each summer and make a difference in all their education.” 

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

WHAT: SPARKY! The Book Trailer free book distribution events

WHO: Fireflies and SELCO Community Credit Union

WHEN:

Friday, June 21: 3-4:30 p.m., at Redmond High School

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

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

Thursday, July 9, noon-1 p.m., at Pine Nursery Park

Friday, July 19, 3-4:30 p.m., at Redmond High School

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

Friday, Aug. 2, 3-4:30 p.m., at Redmond High School

Friday, Aug. 16, 3-4:30 p.m., at Redmond High School

For more information: uufco.org/fireflies.