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BY KAREN THIEL

For the Washington Daily News

 

Pat Lurvey waited less than ten seconds before she exclaimed that she is “thrilled that somebody else is trying to do what Literacy Volunteers of Beaufort County has been doing for more than 20 years. We would love to help them.”

 Lurvey, who is executive director of the Beaufort County outreach, learned this week that Kara Cecchi, a resident of Edgecombe County, has formed a tax-exempt literacy outreach to underserved children in primarily rural areas of North Carolina. “After I had kids my passion for children’s books grew,” said Cecchi, whose three children range from 10 month to five years old.” The news spread around Beaufort County because of an internet post by Tom Ryan, owner of Pamlico Books, after Cecchi’s husband Kyle surprised her on Mother’s Day by giving her 90 seconds to choose however many books she wanted at the North Market Street store.

 “I just want to help all kids I all communities, but mostly underserved kids in smaller communities that are typically underfunded in North Carolina… and it’s the same throughout the country. We have a nationwide book club that has 24 chapters so far,” Cecchi said this week, and are also refurbishing old news and magazine sidewalk vending (structures) and stocking them with diverse and inclusive books.” Cecchi said her ultimate goal is to have a physical location where books would be available for children from newborn to 18 years of age.

 Lurvey commended Cecchi’s goals, spunk, and efforts, which include formation of a board of directors and acquisition of 501c3 nonprofit status that could help them raise