PAM AND BILL BRUCKER — drove to Saco to buy 500 children's books to give away this summer. Since the Bruckers retired to Bridgton, their passion for teaching and giving back to their adopted community has only gained in strength. (Photo by George Bradt)

The newly-formed Bridgton Literacy Taskforce needs volunteers of any age to read to children at Bridgton's beaches this summer. Volunteers will be reading to children, and giving free books away, during the morning hours of the seven-week swim and lunch programs starting later this month.

"We have gathered many wonderful books through kind donations," explains Pam Brucker, the BLT's librarian, "all we need now are the volunteer readers."

School's out, but it's important for parents to remember that summer reading keeps your child's brain active and developing. Children who want to be ready to enter the next grade in August need to be reading this summer. Reading skills are important, even when it comes to math problems, since most of them are written out.

The Bridgton Literacy Taskforce is a new nonprofit, dedicated to promoting reading skills in Bridgton.

"The BLT wants to be reading to infants, toddlers, and the children who will be entering Stevens Brook Elementary School," explains Co-President Bill Brucker. "We've only been in existence for a few months, but we are passionate about helping children improve their reading skills."

Krystal Carrier, BLT vice president, notes, "We need to recruit teenagers, college students, parents and grandparents if we're going to reach all three of our BLT goals for our first summer: 120 hours of reading, 500 kids read to, and 500 books given away.

All reading volunteers will be assisted by BLT members who will train and provide all the materials and support needed.

To help, call Bill Brucker at 647-5209 and tell him you want to be a volunteer reader.