Meet The Kid's Reading Rooms
Their mission is to enhance the literacy of children by providing reading rooms in their apartment communities and local neighborhood centers. They are inspiring elementary children to become lifelong learners, readers and leaders.
“I believe where you invest, you get a return. I enjoyed the opportunity of investing in young people’s lives and to help ensure a brighter future for them. Today’s Readers will be Tomorrow’s Leaders!”
“Reading for children is the best gift you can ever give a child, reading evokes a journey any young, middle-aged or tween would like to be, it gives them an opportunity to dream and relate to various characters. Reading with friends or among other people creates a connection and accountability that will model their future.
Chapelwood Foundation's Impact
The Foundation funded The Kid's Reading Rooms $2,000 which was used to provide programs costs and books for children for birthdays and Christmas gifts, new books for the apartment location, monthly craft supplies for children, monthly holiday party supplies and sweet treats for children, weekly prizes for children, and any office supplies or cleaning supplies needed for the location.
The Kid's Reading Rooms' Story
The Kid’s Reading Room started “with no formulated plan. It was just an idea, a wish, a dream.” But Trish Schappell, a counselor in Spring Branch, turned that dream into reality in 2013. The Kid’s Reading Room is designed to reach underprivileged children in apartment communities in the Spring Branch area. Their mission is to give students an opportunity to read outside of school with mentors who can engage children, improve literacy, and instill a lifelong love of reading.
Trish Schappel’s dream originated from her experience at a week-long reading training program at Spring Branch ISD. During this training, she became acutely aware of the harsh reality that improving a child's literacy often takes a back seat when parents work full-time and struggle to make ends meet. Trish was presented with staggering statistics about students who fail to graduate and cannot read by high school. This information deeply resonated with her and inspired her to make a meaningful difference in her community
Currently, four Kids' Reading Rooms are located in Spring Branch apartment complexes. When students visit a reading room, they can check out books each week and periodically receive new books to help them build their own libraries. The organizers also provide regular snacks, host holiday parties, and occasionally offer craft classes for the children.
The Kid’s Reading Room is making a significant impact in Spring Branch. The organization’s mission, “to create a better future for underprivileged children by encouraging them to become lifelong learners, readers, and leaders,” is one we are excited to see continue growing and thriving in our community.
