Ferst Readers (FFCL)

Children, birth to five, who participate in the Ferst Readers program receive a free, age-appropriate book every month in the mail along with literacy support resources for parents that help create a language-rich environment in the home. The Ferst Readers program increases children's access to print and early language experiences so that they have the best chance of entering school with the skills necessary to succeed. Community action teams, comprised of dedicated volunteers, implement the program at the local level by raising funds, registering children and partnering with other organizations to raise awareness around the early literacy issue. Partner action teams are direct funders who choose to support a specific group of children for program enrollment.

Ferst Readers serves as the fiscal agent for toombs county family connection/get toombs county reading campaign, a local collaboration that supports the statewide "get Georgia reading" campaign, through grants from the literacy for all fund. The gtcrc provides a variety of literacy-related services to children and adults in toombs county including the Ferst Readers program.

Ferst Readers administers the Georgia rural libraries initiative which provides multi-year grants to two county libraries in rural communities in Georgia. These grants serve to enhance the availability of early childhood learning resources in rural communities primarily through existing public libraries. Ferst Readers serves as fiscal agent for grants provided through the greater atlanta community foundation from an anonymous donor.