HUDSON — Got desks? Not every student in the Hudson City School District does, and for students who are doing all their learning from home, that is a real problem. The Hudson Literacy Fund vowed to change that, so it tackled the problem head on by providing 100 free desks. The fund is a 501(c)(3) that supports literacy within the Hudson City School District.
Board member and former teacher Lisa Dolan said, “Students need a space of their own, where they can focus, but they don’t all have that. Some of them are propping their Chromebooks up on coolers. They deserve better. They need their own space, an environment that feels dedicated to learning. Not everyone is so fortunate, and we want to help change that.”
Recently, 97 families with students in virtual classes drove up to the Montgomery C Smith Elementary School to pick up free supplies that included a desk, a set of earbuds, a bag of art supplies, and a book from the Hudson Children’s Book Festival library. The desks are no-frills folding desks that can be stored away when not in use. One hundred desks were made available through collaboration with Teresa Saunders, manager of Staples on Fairview Avenue in Hudson, who also provided the art supplies. Partial funding is through a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, Fund for Columbia County, which also funded 100 earbuds to go along with the desks. The balance of the funding was provided by the Hudson Literacy Fund.
Attending the “Got Desks” pickup were Assemblymember Didi Barrett, HCSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Suttmeier, Principal Mark Brenneman, Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson, and aldermen representing the Hudson Common Council. “Virtual” teachers and members of the Hudson Literacy Fund board were there socially distanced to help give kids their desks.
The Hudson Literacy Fund defines literacy broadly as a willingness to engage with language to understand and find meaning in reading, writing, spelling, and listening. The Fund’s tools have been books, words, mentors, authors and in-school programs. Building students’ confidence as readers and writers can form a strong foundation for their future successes.
The Hudson Literacy Fund was created in 2013 to support and raise funds for the book festival. Since then, it has grown its work to a broader literacy mission, adding reading programs, book gifts to kids and libraries, monetary gifts to college bound seniors, and a Young Writers Competition. More information is available at thehudsonliteracyfund.com.
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