Clothes Less Traveled Awards $4,000 Grant to Support Children’s Literacy at Peachtree City Library
The Friends of the Peachtree City Library is proud to announce a $4,000 grant award from Clothes Less Traveled in support of children’s literacy programming at the Peachtree City Library.
This funding will directly support two key children’s initiatives in 2026: the library’s summer programming series and the launch of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Together, these programs support literacy development at two critical stages—early childhood and the elementary school years—while keeping access free for local children and families.
Supporting Early Literacy with 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
In June 2026, Peachtree City Library will re-launch 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a national early-literacy initiative designed for children from birth to age five. The program encourages parents and caregivers to read aloud with their child and track progress toward a goal of 1,000 books before kindergarten.
The goal is simple and manageable. Reading just one book a day adds up to 365 books in a year, allowing families to reach 1,000 books well before kindergarten. Re-reading favorite books counts, making the program realistic for families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
The purpose of the program is to build the foundational literacy skills children need before entering school. Research consistently shows that children who are read to regularly develop stronger vocabulary, improved language comprehension, and better pre-reading skills than children who are read to less often. These early literacy skills are among the strongest predictors of school readiness and long-term academic success.
Participation at Peachtree City Library will encourage families to build consistent reading habits at home while giving parents and caregivers a simple, structured way to support early learning before formal schooling begins.
Grant funding from Clothes Less Traveled will support a limited number of branded tote bags for families who enroll in the program. These bags will serve as both a practical reading tool and a visible symbol of participation, giving families a dedicated way to carry library books and celebrate their commitment to early literacy while encouraging early enrollment in the program.
Supporting Free Summer Programming for Families
The grant will also support the Peachtree City Library’s 2026 summer programming series, one of the library’s busiest and most visible seasons for children’s engagement.
Each summer, the library offers free educational and enrichment programs for children and families while school is out of session. These programs are designed to keep children engaged with reading, learning, and the library through hands-on experiences, performances, and interactive events. While attendance is free to the public, these programs require funding to bring in presenters, performers, and educational activities for the community.
Support from Clothes Less Traveled will help fund the programming costs behind these free events, including children’s performers, educational presenters, and author visits. These are the programs families see and attend each summer—such as live performers, interactive educational experiences, and literacy-based events—made possible through outside funding support. For example, when the library hosts a magician, storyteller, or children’s entertainer, grant funding helps cover the cost of bringing that provider to the library while allowing the event to remain free for every child who attends.
In summer 2025 alone, Peachtree City Library hosted 46 children’s programs across June and July, serving 1,633 child attendees and 1,088 adult attendees. Demand for these events continues to grow each year, making outside support essential to sustaining high-quality, free summer programming for local families.
Investing in Young Readers
This grant is an investment in literacy, learning, and access.
By supporting both 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and free summer programming, Clothes Less Traveled is helping Peachtree City Library serve children during two of the most important periods for literacy development: the years before kindergarten and the summer months when families rely on the library most.
The Friends of the Peachtree City Library is grateful for Clothes Less Traveled’s continued support of literacy and learning in our community.
