Entering its 21st year, the Reading Buddies program will provide 12 books free of charge to each of the preschool children at MAPS Pine River School for Young Learners and Parkside Preschool. The books are read and given to the children each month from October through May by over 50 volunteer reader/mentors to promote a love of reading, and an enthusiasm for learning in years to come.
Thanks to the support from donors, a total of 2,520 books will be distributed in Lincoln County during the 2018-2019 school year. The 2018-2019 Merrill benefactors include: MAPS Pine River School for Young Learners; Parkside Preschool; Merrill Noon Optimists; Merrill Evening Lions; Church Mutual Insurance Co.; Barbara A. Rothlisberg; Park City Credit Union; Rich and Jeanette Prange; Chapter AA PEO Sisterhood and members Kathryn Spencer, Carol Weber, Dawn Schroder-Silvela and Jayne Fox; Merrill Rotary Club; Beta Sigma Phi Council; Lincoln Community Bank; Fraternal Order of Eagles; The Study Class; and Social Topics Club. Memorials were given in memory of: Sarah Schwartz and Capt. Ray and Verna Schwartz by Kent and Sue Johnson; Edna Tubbin by Kent and Sue Johnson and Dee Taylor; and Kenneth Meier by Kent and Sue Johnson.