Camie's Literacy Group Donates Books

Thousands of elementary students in the will receive at least one free book this month thanks to the efforts and vision of a grandmother and educator.

Faith Gardner, who works as a diagnostician for the District, is the founder of Camie’s Literacy Group (CLG). She established the group almost two years ago after being inspired by her granddaughter Camie’s love of reading.

Gardner says the idea that all children don’t have access to age-appropriate books at home was unacceptable to her, so she enlisted the help of her family, friends and coworkers in order to get CLG off the ground.  

Last year, as a result of their initial fundraising efforts, nearly 1,000 books were provided to every student in grades K-2 at and those enrolled at the District’s Early Childhood Center.

 CLG’s mission, according to Gardner, is to “encourage the love of reading books in young children. To this aim we dedicate ourselves to the goal of obtaining and distributing an appropriate new book to those most in need. Our greatest hope is that every child will have a new book to call their own.”

CLG has teamed up again this year with the St. Charles City-County Library Foundation which is providing 4,000 new books for distribution in the Wentzville School District. CLG is providing an additional 1,200 books to the effort.

The new books will go to students enrolled at , every kindergarten student enrolled in the District, as well as first and second graders at Heritage, Lakeview, Duello, Discovery Ridge and Prairie View Elementary schools. This moves the group one step closer to Gardner’s goal of providing books to all  students in kindergarten, first and second grades.

Kristin Williams, Planning and Development Coordinator for the St. Charles City-County Library Foundation said the foundation is pleased to be able to work with CLG and furnish the books for District students.

“The Foundation exists to support and enhance what the library district already does to promote literacy in young children. We want to ensure that families have the tools they need to support a love of reading at home.”

 For more information about CLG, visit www.camiesliteracygroup.org.