CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Tennessee’s First Lady Crissy Haslam was in Clarksville Monday for the kick-off of the Read 20 Book Patrol. The program partners with local law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to encourage reading for children while at the same time building positive relationships with police officers.
Close to 30 youngsters, ages 9-12, joined Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan, Police Chief Al Ansley, and members of the police department at the Kleeman Community Center to talk about reading. Each child in attendance received a book.
The Kiwanis Club of Clarksville was also on hand and are helping with sponsorship of the program once the initial 500 books from the first lady’s office have been given out.
“What we are doing is getting our police officers to carry books in their cars and as they run across kids in the neighborhoods they can hand out books to them. We want to promote reading and they can talk to them about reading and the importance of literacy,” Haslam said.
Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley praised the program. “This is an opportunity not only to promote us that we’re there to help you but also reading is important so that enhances a child’s educational process. I think it’s great,” said Ansley.
The program encourages children to read at least 20 minutes a day. Both the Kleeman Recreation Center and Burt-Cobb Recreation Center with the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department were part of the Read 20 Book Patrol launch Monday.
