PMCT First Book Initiative Provides Books For Every Pat-Med Student

Over the last few weeks, the Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers First Book Mobile has been delivering thousands of books to the students of the Patchogue-Medford School District.

Over 15,000 books (valued at over $140,000) were received via a grant from First Book and the American Federation of Teachers. Age appropriate books were distributed to elementary school students, as well as, middle and high school students. Some of books have also been dispersed to organizations within the Patchogue-Medford community.

This was a truly an incredible venture! It all started with our NYSUT delegates visiting the First Book booth at one of our annual Representative Assemblies. Once we signed up, our Outreach chairpersons Nadine Scalzo and Kerri Simeone took the ball and ran with it. They presented the process that would need to occur in order to win the grant to our building representatives. We acquired the over 1000 signatures and email addresses that First Book required. Our administrative and support staff colleagues, along with district PTA members, submitted their information. We worked together to input all that information and sent it to First Book. We were notified in late June that we would be receiving 8 pallets of books. PMCT’s Executive Vice-President, Kevin Toolan, traveled to Tarrytown to meet up with the truck that was filled with the books. He drove the 26 foot U-Haul to our storage facility with the Patchogue-Medford School District. PMCT, along with the help of NYSUT, rented the truck for two weeks. PMCT coordinated the events in each building by establishing a calendar that met the needs of each building.

PMCT President, Beth Warnken and Executive Vice-President, Kevin Toolan visited each elementary and middle school building distributing a PMCT book mark and the brand new books to all students. This endeavor would not have been possible without the help of ALL PMCT members.

The Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers has received MANY wonderful thank you letters from the students (and parents), along with several great messages on FaceBook.  The PMCT truly enjoyed being able to support the love of reading by putting books in the hands of all our students.


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