'Read With Ruffy' effort shatters goal

Librarian Luise House and school district curriculum director Sherri Ybarra are surrounded by donated "Ruffy" stuffed dogs.

The first state of the Read with Ruffy program was described by organizers as "a great success" with 429 new stuffed-animal dogs donated during February.

The goal had been 350 dogs, one for every second grade student in the Mountain Home School District.

The second phase of the project will begin this week when Sherri Ybarra, the district's director of curriculum, Luise House, the city library director, and K-9 officer Ryan Melanese and Jake will visit the schools to distribute the stuffed animals.

During those visits, students will pledge --to Jake -- that they will read to their "Ruffy" dog at least 20 minutes every day.

"Hopefully, we'll see an increase in reading scores this spring," Ybarra said. "That's what this whole program is about, getting kids to read. We often talk about having to practice if you want to be good at a sport, or a musical instrument, but you also have to practice if you want to be good at reading."

House added that she hopes many of the students they see this week will decide to also sign up later this year for the summer reading program at the library.

Ruffy in the schools and the libary's summer reading program aren't the only arrows in Ybarra's quiver to get students to read, however. The MyOn Reader program also gives students digital options to enjoy reading (anyone with a spare digital phone they'd like to donate should contact their local elementary school).

Ybarra and House were pleased with the donation effort for the first phase of the Read with Ruffy program, which went well over its initial goal. "This tells me that Mountain Home understands how important reading is," Ybarra said. "These types of programs can have a huge impact, and don't cost taxpayers anything when the community gets involved like this.

"In all my 17 years here, any time I've asked the community for something they've always come through."

She noted that the excess stuffed animals will be held over to start next year's drive. "What a great thing for this year's first graders to look forward to," she said.

House noted that sign-ups for the summer reading program at the library will begin May 19 with the program starting May 31.

The program features students making simple reports about the books they've read, and receiving prizes for their efforts. In addition, a number of family activities are held during the program between June 2 and July 5.

For summer reading program participants, an "extra surprise" will be provided for those who bring their Ruffy to the program, House added.