Literacy bags in the Making
  An amazing group of 11 Benzie Sunrise Rotarians packed, in less than an hour, almost 700 literacy bags for the PoWeR! Book Bags (PBB) program at Benzie Central Schools. The weather was beautiful and folks had a good time chatting as they worked. PBB seeks to increase children's experiences with language, literacy, and human interactions to better understand themselves, communicate with others, and connect with the world. Specifically, PBB focuses on underserved children in Northern Michigan. Our Benzie Club packs and delivers books to their three Benzie Central elementary schools three times a year, allowing children to select two books going into holiday breaks and at the end of the school year. Over the past five years, this program has been partially funded by the Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club, the Benzie Central Educational Foundation, the GTRCF Youth Advisory Council, and private donors. -- reported by intrepid Benzie Sunrise Rotarian Valerie Gerhart  Thanks, Val!  The people of action at Benzie Sunrise would love to have you join them for a meeting, typically on Tuesdays, 7:30 am, at the Lucky Dog Bar & Grille. | Some happy children receiving PBB books  |