Whitely Community Council’s Summer Reading Initiative and Community Engagement Events

The Whitely Community Council, a non-profit group in Muncie, Indiana, is dedicated to serving and representing the Whitely Neighborhood, working directly with residents to make positive changes. Lately, they’ve been focusing on projects that promote education, a cleaner environment, and the well-being of residents. 

On May 14th, Longfellow Elementary hosted a family night in conjunction with their pantry night—part of the “Big Idea” collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank to set up a pantry at the school. The Whitely Community Council seized this chance to promote their Summer Reading Initiative to Longfellow Elementary families. They offered Nike shoes as well as generic brand shoes from Second Harvest for every child signed up, while supplies lasted.

The Summer Reading Initiative, proposed by the Whitely Community Council Education Committee, encourages students to track their reading over June and July. They can win prizes along the way, and parents can earn incentives too for encouraging their kids to read. Students in K-6th grade also received an essay prompt, with different versions for each age group. These essays can be submitted for big prizes when school starts again in the fall, such as bicycles and gift cards. Additionally, there will be a grand prize of the Oculus 2, Meta’s 3D VR headset, specifically for 4th and 5th grade students.

Approximately 55 students have already joined the summer reading program, and there’s been a great response from the community. Additionally, the Whitely Community Council organized a spring clean-up on May 11th, with volunteers pitching in to tidy up the neighborhood. They also offered a trash pick-up service for residents. 

Additionally, on May 16th, the Whitely Community Council hosted a Food Pantry event specifically for the Whitely neighborhood. This event aimed to provide essential supplies to families in need, reinforcing the council’s commitment to supporting local residents. 

Stay tuned for more updates to come on future projects from the Whitely Community Council.