Dannielle Hyde jumped in at the deep end when she took over as the Literacy Now co-ordinator on Nov. 3, immediately starting to put together the annual Family Literacy Day, which takes place on Jan. 24, 2015.
“I thought it would be great to get out the advertisement as quick as possible and keep reminding people that we have this event going on in this community and to get as many people out as possible,” said Hyde.
That has meant getting in touch with both past and potential new participants along with organizing entertainment and arranging a location, which will be Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, as in past years.
This will be the seventh annual Family Literacy Day in Penticton, and Hyde is planning to build on past successes, like the Heap the Honda event. She’s already contacted Honda to see if they would like to participate again and supply a vehicle that people will be invited to fill with new and used books for children, starting on Jan. 24 and continuing through to Jan. 31.
“We are going to have Jake (Evans), who is a local hip hop artist, he is going to be participating on stage as well. And then we are trying to get some local drummers and dancers from the Penticton Indian Band as well as choirs,” said Hyde.
“From what I have gathered from the people’s suggestions after the events is that the readings are sometimes not be able to be heard through the audience because of all the commotion in the shopping centre.
“We will have readings, but we are also going to have other stage performers as well.”
Evans will also be operating a booth, promoting the children’s book he produced last year featuring his son, Feelin’ The Beat - dancing hip hop with Jake and Damien.
“For the most part, it is the same organizations from years past,” said Hyde, listing off groups like the Community Resource Society, Strong Start, Okanagan College and South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services. “We are also going to invite the En’owkin Centre and Theytus Books.”