WASHINGTON (August 13, 2009)—On Wednesday, August 12, Congressman Ben Chandler visited the Franklin County Health Department as part of the Reach Out and Read program.

This program promotes literacy as a critical part of pediatric primary care, and serves 3.8 million children annually and distributes over 6 million books each year. In the Sixth Congressional District alone, Reach Out and Read serves over 10,700 children.  On Wednesday, Congressman Chandler participated in Reach Out and Read’s Franklin County book giveaway, providing free books to children visiting the clinic.

“Reading is so important,” Chandler said.  “Not only does this program give children access to books, but it gets kids engaged and excited about reading at an early age, a beneficial gift that stays with them for the rest of their lives.”

At the event, Chandler read three books aloud to children at the health department—“Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed,” “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” and “David Gets in Trouble.”
 
After the book distribution, Congressman Chandler met with Franklin County doctors, nurses, board members, and patients and took questions on issues surrounding healthcare reform.

Chandler continued, “I appreciate everything that our healthcare workers do for Franklin County, and I appreciate all the good work that Reach Out and Read has done for our young people.”

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