Book Drive Aims To Raise Hearing and Speech Awareness

As part of national “Better Hearing & Speech Month,” Laughlin Children’s Center is launching its first-ever book drive to raise local awareness of the importance of diagnosing and treating communication disorders and reading problems.

Children with weak speech and language skills, as well as those who do not have the opportunity to see and interact with print in everyday situations, often experience problems learning to read and write when they enter school.

Doug Florey, executive director of the Laughlin Center, said the experience with listening and speaking gained during the preschool years is essential to prepare children for learning to read and write in elementary school.

"Children who enter school with weaker verbal abilities are more likely to be at risk for later academic problems," Florey said. 

To help draw attention to communication issues, the center invites the Sewickley community to consider donating a book in honor of “Better Hearing & Speech Month" to the center's book drive.

The books will be donated to Side By Side, a local organization that offers practical help to single mothers and to families that have children with special needs. Side By Side provides material help, mentoring and support from members, and practical help that uses the gifts of the church to meet the real demands of everyday life.

"We recognize that single parenting and parenting children with special needs is particularly challenging and requires support," said  Side By Side Director Andrea Zimmerman. "We provide assistance by using the network of resources within the community and the church."

Zimmerman said the group would "love" to receive books through the book drive.

"What a fantastic idea! The mothers will be thrilled,” she said. 

How to Donate:

 Interested families can drop off new books suitable for infants, toddlers and preschoolers at any one of several convenient sites, including:   Children’s Center, The SewickleyValley , the Penguin  and .

Look for the "Better Hearing and Speech Month" sign and the brightly decorated book drop box.

The book drive runs from Monday, May16  through Tuesday, May 31. All donations will benefit Side By Side.