Albany resident Pink Whelchel is shown reading to students at Alice Coachman Elementary School in observance of “Read Across America”. The National Education Association’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. Whelchel is one of many volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County who routinely read to students at the Dougherty County school. The weekly reading program at Alice Coachman is a fundamental part of the club’s effort at emphasizing the importance literacy and joy of reading to children in the community.