EDMESTON _ What makes a rainbow?
Scott Porter, president of the Edmeston Rotary Club, unlocked this mystery Thursday as he read ``What Makes A Rainbow'' to a group of 10 children in the basement of the town's Second Baptist Church.
Formed by Bonnie McBride of Burlington Flats, the group meets every Thursday morning to teach kids, from 5 months old to 5 years old, the value of reading and playing nicely together.
The weekly exercise is the creation of Bonnie McBride, a 1991 graduate of Edmeston Central School.
``I think it's really important to teach kids at an early age that books are fun,'' McBride said. ``I lived in Atlanta for a while and they had a program for preschoolers, so when I moved back here, I looked for the same thing.''
When she didn't find such a group, she approached the Edmeston Rotary Club for help.
``She outlined her program for us, and we donated $100 for supplies,'' said Scott Porter, the club's president.
He also volunteered to be this week's reader.
``March is Rotary's literacy month, so I thought I'd help out,'' said Porter, who also encourages young readers at ECS through the Parents As Reading Partners program.
``Reading is the key to everything,'' he said.
McBride agreed.
``When I was living in Georgia, I was a unit manager in a nursing home, and I was surprised by how many people couldn't read,'' she said. ``People would come to me and ask me to read things for them.''
This work experience drove home the importance of being fluent in English, said McBride, whose sons Michael and Grayson are among the program's attendees.
``It's really nice for the mothers, too,'' she said. ``We get together to share experiences, and our kids have a chance to interact. I think it's especially important to have something like this in a rural area, where there aren't as many activities.''
After listening to stories, parents and children go upstairs in the church to work on crafts projects, and their session is capped off with cookies or other snacks.
Mother Tasha Robinson said she and her daughter, Maeve, enjoy the program.
``It's fun, and very good socialization,'' she said.
McBride said parents and children are welcome to join. Sessions begin at 10:30 a.m.
For more information, call her at 965-6227 or 232-6505.
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