CLiF runs more than 500 literacy events, gives away $550,000 in children’s books, and serves thousands of children each year to nurture a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk, and rural kids (up to age 12) in Vermont and Hampshire. But how do we do it? With a little elbow grease and a lot of help from our generous volunteers, partners, and supporters.

Here’s a “behind-the-scenes” glimpse at what the CLiF team is up to this week:

Monday, May 15

• Author/illustrator of more than 85 children’s books, musician, and long-time CLiF Presenter Jim Arnosky celebrates the Marlboro School’s Year of the Book finale with K-8 students in Marlboro, VT. Jim gives a drawing demonstration to show how he illustrates his books, plays music, and tells stories with the students.
• Duncan, CLiF’s founder/Executive Director and veteran storyteller, gives fun presentations to students at Milton Elementary School in Milton, Mills NH to celebrate Milton Mills Public Library’s Rural Libraries finale (photo above)!

Tuesday, May 16

• Jim Arnosky heads up to Greensboro, VT to give presentations to pre-schoolers and K-6 students to celebrate Greensboro Public Library’s Rural Libraries finale.
• The CLiF Staff – Duncan, Meredith, Jana, Stephanie, and Erika – meet for our weekly check-in to discuss what’s coming up this week and share ideas.
• FedEx delivers 39 boxes of books for our trusty volunteers to sort, stick CLiF book plates in, and pack up for our upcoming book giveaways. Our volunteers Jim, Cyndi, and Cathy are hard at work in the CLiF library getting ready for all our upcoming events.

Wednesday, June 17

• Duncan spends the day at VBSR’s annual conference in Burlington, VT chatting with supporters, partners, and other nonprofit staff.
• Meanwhile in the CLiF office…
  • Jana reviews Summer Readers applications and works to schedule 125 events and book giveaways this summer (with a quick break to shoo a pesky wasp out of the office); Erika works on our summer newsletter (coming to mailboxes soon!), updates the website, and posts on our Facebook and Twitter pages, while Stephanie keeps the show running paying bills, processing donations, and managing our volunteer schedule.
  • Our IT guru and generous volunteer Trevor stops by to keep our tech running smoothly.
  • Yoshi, CLiF’s Chief Dog Officer, makes us take a break to scratch her belly, then takes a nap in the hot sun.

    

Thursday, June 18

• Jim Arnosky rounds out a CLiF triple-header this week (and a whirlwind tour of the Twin States) with a visit to Springfield, NH for Libbie Cass Library’s Rural Libraries finale.
• Author/illustrator Marty Kelley travels to both Monroe and Jefferson, NH to tell stories at their Rural Libraries finales.
• Meredith chats with librarians at the Vermont Library Association Conference in Killington, VT (Earlier in the month, she attended the NH Library Association in Portsmouth, NH).
• Jana attends the first session of the Snelling Center for Government’s Early Childhood Leadership Institute.
• Duncan, Stephanie, Erika hold down the fort at CLiF HQ and try to keep it cool as the thermometer passes 90 degrees.
• Yoshi’s daily visit to CLiF HQ is cancelled due to a muddy morning excursion.
• Our fearless volunteer, Kim, doesn’t bat an eye when she’s visited in the library while organizing books by a friendly mouse trying to beat the heat.(By the way, we’re still looking for a few diligent volunteers to help out on Wednesdays this summer at CLiF HQ in Waterbury Center; email Stephanie if you’re interested.)
• Meanwhile, a dedicated team of CLiF’s Board of Directors, past grant partners, and friends, prepare for next Wednesday’s CLiF gathering at Mariposa Museum in Peterborough, NH. Want to learn more about that event? Email Erika!

 

None of this could happen without your support. Thank you for all you do to make these programs possible for young readers and writers.