Jumpstart fund-raisers

Barnes & Noble is sponsoring a one-day Book Fair on Sunday, Dec. 5, to support Jumpstart Fresno, which recruits and trains college students to work with preschool children from low-income backgrounds on building language and literacy, social and initiative skills.

Jumpstart Fresno delivers an innovative early learning program that focuses on the development of the child, his or her family, and the college student serving as an AmeriCorps member. Through extraordinary attention in yearlong, one-to-one relationships, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach, families to get involved and communities to progress together.

A campus mailer sent to all departments at the end of November included a voucher that can be used at the store on Dec. 5, from noon to 4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble. Fifteen to 25 percent of the proceeds from voucher sales that afternoon will go directly to Jumpstart Fresno. To receive additional flyers, contact the Jumpstart office at 8-5848

An annual Holiday Book Drive is hosted by Barnes & Noble, 7849 N. Blackstone Ave.,to support Jumpstart’s need for children’s books. During the months of November and December look for the in-store display and purchase a children’s book to be donated to individual children within the Jumpstart Fresno program.

The local American Eagle Outfitters store is facilitating a fund-raiser for various charities. In return for a $1 donation, customers designating Jumpstart as their choice non-profit will receive an AE bracelet as a thank you, with Jumpstart receiving 100 percent of the proceeds. More importantly, community members will be displaying their support of Jumpstart’s early literacy efforts in Fresno.

Also, American Eagle Outfitters has partnered its employees with Jumpstart Corps members Debra Kusick and Joey Rizzari-Carroll to create a flannel storyboard of Eric Carle's book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" All supplies for the creation of the flannel board were purchased and furnished by American Eagle Outfitters.

Jumpstart college student Corps members will use this project with their partner child throughout the Jumpstart Session . Corps members will begin by introducing the book, the flannel board, and the felt animal pieces to children during choice time or one-to-one reading. During the first reading of the book, Corps members will use the dialogic reading method to read the book and show children how to use the felt pieces on the flannel board to help tell the story. As corps members read the book the second time, they will invite children to help tell the story by using the felt pieces on the flannel board.

After American Eagle Outfitters presents the flannel board to the classroom on Dec. 2, Jumpstart Corps members and children will be able to use the flannel board story in many different ways. Children might use the felt pieces to “read” the book on their own or create new stories. These materials will spark children's interest around creating felt pieces for other stories and will become important language and literacy materials in the learning environment.

This project is important because reading books aloud to children is one of the most important ways adults can support children's early literacy development. Reading aloud “predictable” books like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" is a great way to help children to think of themselves as readers. While reading the book and using the felt pieces, children will begin to understand that pictures in books have meaning and that different pictures represent different words and sounds.

For other service opportunities visit www.csufresno.edu/jumpstart/. Additionally, community volunteers are needed for special events throughout the year. Please contact Jumpstart Fresno for further information on volunteering.