Tell a Better Story

BY JANICE MARIE WILSON

Once upon a time is how every good story begins. But to have a happy ending to a story, you need to learn how to tell it. Many children in Nevada are learning to tell a better story about their lives because Spread The Word Nevada decided to create a children’s literacy nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation. It is dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books in the hands and homes of children within Nevada’s low-income communities. While developing a love of reading, these libraries promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, which impacts lifelong success. Since 2001, Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 5.8 million gently used and new books to approximately 645,071 low-income youth in Nevada.

By reading, we learn to communicate our feelings and emotions through words and begin to create a world filled with wonder. It is the gateway to living a life filled with opportunities and not opposition. Doors start to open more freely when a child learns to read and communicate with their friends and families. These children share their “better stories” with their friends and even begin to teach parents and siblings how to read. The “bully” learns to share; the “little girl” finds a friend; colors have a name; letters make sounds. And it is fun to hear those sounds make a word that tells a story out loud.

Our quality of life is enhanced when a child learns to read, and they learn about a world that can only be found in books. Between the brightly covered pages of books, their imagination discovers new thoughts and ideas. For a brief moment, they learn to escape to a place where it is safe and magical, and they can shut out the noise and chaos surrounding them. Anger and frustration evaporate with every page they turn.

Mentoring and reading to one another ignite our souls to each other. You learn that someone cares. And that feels good. Our children also need to feel good about themselves and their world. Spread the Word Nevada’s mission answers this call.

“It’s important now more than ever to get books in the hands of children in Nevada,” says Lisa Habighorst, STWN Executive Director. “Our community comes together in giving to make sure these kids are reading and learning to provide a brighter future for themselves and our state.”

But sometimes, a story can take a terrible twist. When you have lost your job, have nowhere to live, and you are sick and anxiety-ridden about this pandemic, there emerges a protagonist in the story to save the day. The hero in this “better story” is Hope for the City.

When COVID-19 viciously attacked our lives with sickness, death, fear, and hunger, Hope for the City became the superhero that went toe-to-toe with this formidable opponent.

Chief Development Officer, Kelley Jones, tells us that this non-profit emerged to make sure that “No one in Las Vegas Goes Hungry.” And that is precisely what they are doing daily. “The feelings of hunger are real. We innately believe we are here to help each other,” states Kelly.

And that’s what Super Heroes do. Hope for the City is exhibiting feats of incredible strength. They are a non-profit organization passionately committed to providing care relief and meeting the critical food needs of people living in the greater Las Vegas area and beyond. The multi-headed monster has tried to destroy thousands of lives. But with organizations like Hope for the City, the pain of hunger is not going to be one of them. So far, they have provided 528,784 individuals in 118,749 households with over 200 pop-up food pantries, giving away 6,174,948 million pounds of food.

Also, they are providing food assistance to medical personnel, first responders, and over 1,500 elderly, and immune-compromised each week through food deliveries. They have over 1500 super heroic volunteers. There was one hero who came every day at 3:00 a.m. to wait for the food distribution, which didn’t begin till 7:00 a.m. The stuffed rabbit in the grill of his truck singled him out from the thousands waiting in line. Kelly Jones asked him why he came every day. He replied, “I have a lot of neighbors who can’t get out, so I come every day to pick up food and take it to them.”

These are the superheroes who choose this kind of fighting prowess and cunning that will decapitate the multi-headed COVID-19 monster.

Hope for the City is also leaping high buildings to talk people out of jumping off bridges. They have the skills to give people hope to turn the next page, to learn to tell a better story, to let them know people do care about them. They have a 24-hour hotline for those who need encouragement over depression and suicide.

So just when you feel like nothing is working, new superheroes do emerge to save the day. They have magic, passion, and commitment. They know how to kill the COVID monsters.

We have not yet buried the monster. Even though businesses are reopening, kids are in Zoom classes, and our superheroes are working hard to defeat the emotional and physical pain of hunger, a great need still exists. Real economic recovery is months away. Our friends and neighbors are hurting emotionally and financially. Like all good stories, the more difficult the obstacles, the happier the ending. Let’s close the chapter of this book with a happy ending. We have the chance to become the superheroes our neighbors and families need us to be. All we all have to do is tell a better story.

Because of the charity of these two non-profits, we can all tell a better story by spreading the word that Las Vegas does have hope for the city; you are the superheroes who will save the world.

You can support the goal of providing reading opportunities to our youth by going to www.spreadthewordnevada.org.

You can support the goal of no one going hungry in Las Vegas by volunteering or donating to their cause. Go to hopeforthecity.tv