HOLLAND, Mich. -- Goodwill Industries of West Michigan is partnering with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District to create learning opportunities for young children in several Goodwill retail stores.
A launch party will take place July 27th at the Goodwill-North Holland Store for the "Talking is Teaching" program. The location is 393 E. Lakewood Blvd. It will run from 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. Talking is Teaching is a national public awareness and action campaign that shares information with families about their role in a child’s early brain and language development.
West Michigan Goodwill stores participating in the Talking is Teaching initiative through a partnership with the Muskegon Area ISD include:
- Allendale – 5269 Lake Michigan Dr.
- Coopersville – 1141 W. Randall St.
- North Muskegon – 1169 Whitehall Rd.
- Muskegon – 1501 E. Apple Ave.
- Muskegon – 1934 E. Sherman Blvd.
- Roosevelt Park – 950 W. Norton Ave.
- Whitehall – 3353 Underwood Dr.
The Ottawa Area ISD says in a news release:
This innovative project helps families integrate early literacy into everyday activities and is currently unique to West Michigan. The initiative began in the fall of 2021 through a partnership between the Great Start Collaborative of Muskegon Area ISD, Goodwill of West Michigan and the early childhood initiative of the Clinton Foundation Too Small to Fail.
“Ottawa Area ISD is excited to work with Goodwill Industries of West Michigan to expand this program and help shoppers learn to use everyday moments as teaching moments”, OAISD Early Childhood Department Great Start Collaborative Coordinator-Ottawa, Heather Eizenga, said. “Teaching parents to ‘Talk While You Shop,’ encourages language growth and interaction and helps build a foundation for children to become strong readers.”
Bi-lingual “learning adventure cards” lead children on a scavenger hunt throughout participating stores. Parents can engage with their children while they shop by interacting with the campaign’s colorful floor decals, rack signs, posters, and wall graphics. Visiting children and parents are also offered a free book to take home. “Talking is Teaching” resources and grant money allowed for the materials and book giveaways.
“Goodwill wholeheartedly supports the Talking is Teaching initiative in our participating retail stores throughout West Michigan,” President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, Jeanette Hoyer, said. “We are excited to expand these learning adventure opportunities into our Ottawa County stores thanks to our new partnership with OAISD.”
To celebrate, a Launch Party event is planned for Wednesday, July 27 from 9:45 to 11:00 AM at the Goodwill-North Holland store located at 393 E. Lakewood Blvd. The event will feature a brief ceremony at 9:45 AM, refreshments, tours, giveaways, and literacy resource information booths. The event is free and open to the public.
Newaygo County Great Start through Newaygo County RESA recently joined the partnership and will work with Goodwill of West MI to add two Newaygo County Goodwill stores this fall.
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