A New School Year Begins with a Love of Reading
- Doris Griffin
- Aug 13
- 4 min read
Looking Back on a Wonderful First Half of 2026 at Ferst Readers of Henry County.
As children across Henry County head back to school, thousands of young learners are beginning another year filled with discovery, imagination, and new opportunities.
At Ferst Readers of Henry County, we believe school readiness begins long before the first day of kindergarten—with a parent reading aloud at bedtime, a child asking to hear one more story, and a new book arriving in the mailbox each month.
Every book placed into the hands of a child helps build vocabulary, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading. See How Ferst Readers Works →
2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic year. We’re so thankful for the donors, volunteers, educators, and community partners who are helping make it possible—and there’s so much more to come.
A Room Filled With Stories
This spring, approximately 250 guests gathered for the Ferst Readers of Henry County Spring Luncheon, a joyful celebration of books, imagination, and community support.
Twenty-five themed tables brought beloved stories to life, while generous sponsors, table hosts, volunteers, and community partners helped make the event a wonderful success.
We are especially grateful to Renasant Bank, our Legacy of Literacy Presenting Sponsor, our Gold Reader Sponsors, Henry County Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club of Henry County, and our many Silver Reader and table sponsors.
Want to see more? Meet keynote speaker Carmen Agra Deedy, explore more of the incredible themed tables, and enjoy highlights from the event.
Why Your Support Matters
Every number tells a story—a child discovering the joy of books, a parent reading one more bedtime story, and a community investing in its youngest learners.
During the first half of 2026, your support helped make an incredible impact:
📚 362 children received their very first Ferst Readers book, beginning a monthly journey that will continue until they enter kindergarten.
🎓 244 children graduated from the Ferst Readers program, after receiving age-appropriate books through their preschool years & building a home library of their own.
📦 12,421 books have already been mailed to children across Henry County in 2026.
❤️ Since Ferst Readers of Henry County began in 2005, more than 334,507 books have found their way into the hands—and homes—of local children.
Those are remarkable numbers. But behind every number is a child and a family.
"My children love getting their books in the mail. They ask to read every night."— Ferst Readers Parent
A book can become a bedtime ritual, a new word, a favorite character, or a conversation between parent and child. Sometimes, it becomes the beginning of a lifelong love of reading.
That is why this work matters—and why your support matters.
Help Us Reach More Henry County Children Register a Child → | Give Books →
Support In Our Community
Ferst Readers of Henry County continues to meet families where they are.
At the Geranium Festival in May, our volunteers registered nearly 100 children for the program while also giving away gently used books to children of all ages.
We’re grateful to the McDonough Lions Club, a Ferst Readers grantor and sponsor of the Geranium Festival, and to the Henry County Rotary Club for welcoming our volunteers to share its booth.
Six Henry County schools also supported Ferst Readers during the 2025–26 school year through fundraising events. We’re grateful for their partnership in helping put more books into the hands of Henry County children.
Want to get your group involved?
Whether you're a school, business, civic organization, church, or community group, there are many ways to help support early literacy in Henry County.
Looking Ahead: More Ways to Connect
There’s plenty more to come in 2026!
On Saturday, August 29, Ferst Readers of Henry County will be at Family Empowerment Day at Nash Farm Park, where our volunteers will register preschool children for the Ferst Readers program and give away gently used books.
We’re grateful to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for inviting us to participate and excited for another opportunity to connect with Henry County families.
Your Favorite Characters Are Coming Back!
One of our favorite fall traditions returns this October: the 7th Annual Ferst Character Contest.
What began in 2020, when in-person events were canceled, has grown into a creative annual fundraiser filled with familiar faces, wonderful costumes, friendly competition—and a whole lot of fun.
Each participating character campaigns for votes, and every vote helps support Ferst Readers of Henry County and our mission to put books into the hands of local children.
This year's cast is still coming together, but we already know there will be some wonderful contenders—and perhaps a little friendly competition along the way.
Voting opens in October.
Could You Be One of Our Next Characters?
Whether you're Cinderella, Pete the Cat, Curious George, or your own favorite literary hero, we're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring our annual Ferst Character Contest to life.
Ready to join the fun?📖 Contact Us through our Volunteer Page to become one of this year's characters!
The Next Chapter Is Already Beginning
There’s still plenty of 2026 ahead of us. More books will be mailed, more families reached, and more community partnerships formed.
To every donor, sponsor, volunteer, educator, community partner, and friend who has supported Ferst Readers of Henry County this year: thank you.
You aren't simply helping us mail books. You're helping Henry County's youngest children begin writing the next chapters of their own stories.
You Can Help Write the Next Chapter
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