Energy Express, an award-winning statewide summer reading program, will kick off its 15th summer in Logan County on June 18th

The program will serve more than 225 children in Logan County, providing two meals a day and reading-based educational activities that help children maintain their reading skills and good nutrition during the summer months.

College students and community residents serving as AmeriCorps members support the program, which will take place from Monday-Friday, June 18-July 27, at Logan, Omar, Chapmanville and Man.

“Many children from low-income families fall behind, both nutritionally and academically, during the summer months,” said Jeremy Farley, Logan County contact for Energy Express. “This program ensures that they receive good nutrition and stay involved in fun and educational activities. Energy Express has been shown to help children not only maintain their reading skills during the summer, but often to actually improve them.”

Major funding for Energy Express comes from the West Virginia University Extension Service, the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, the Summer Food Service Program through the West Virginia Department of Education, and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts. In addition to these state partners, there is also a tremendous amount of local support for the program.

“We depend on support from the local community to make this program a success,” said Farley “We need local volunteers to read with the children, to help serve meals and to donate supplies for the program.”

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate supplies or money for the program, call Farley at 304-792-8690.