Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER — Before a child can dream of becoming a teacher, a doctor or an astronaut, that child must first learn to read.
Before an adult can complete a job application, earn a high school equivalency diploma, or confidently read a story to a child, someone must believe that learning is still possible, according to a news release from Operation Read.
For Operation Read, those moments represent more than literacy milestones. They represent futures waiting to be written.
Now, thanks to a three-year $90,000 grant from The Dekko Foundation, more children, families and adults throughout Kosciusko County will have opportunities to discover what becomes possible when someone places a book, encouragement and opportunity within reach.
“Literacy is one of the few places where we have the opportunity to be proactive instead of reactive,” said DeeAnna Muraski, executive director of Operation Read. “We do not have to wait until a child falls behind, until a student loses confidence, or until an adult feels that opportunities have passed them by. We can step in earlier, open doors sooner, and help write a different story.”
Operation Read supports learners at every stage of life through programs including Baby’s First Library, which introduces newborns and their families to the importance of reading together; Read to Grow, which provides books and literacy resources for young children; Book Boogie, which inspires elementary students to build strong reading habits; Operation Read Around Kosciusko County, which provides books for every second-grade classroom and brings community volunteers to read to children, Memory Puzzle books for senior citizen communities and tutoring for youth and adults.
Behind each program is a simple belief: literacy changes lives, and the earlier a community invests in reading, the more possibilities it creates.
For a newborn, that investment might begin with a parent reading a first bedtime story. For an elementary student, it might mean discovering the excitement of finishing a book. For an adult learner, it might mean finding the courage to pursue a diploma, a better job, or a long-delayed dream.
September is Literacy Month, making this an especially meaningful time to celebrate the power of reading at every stage of life. From a child’s first bedtime story to an adult discovering that it is never too late to learn, literacy strengthens not only individuals, but the families and communities surrounding them.
Emerging research suggests those benefits may extend well into older adulthood. A 2026 study by Rush University Medical Center found that greater lifelong participation in mentally stimulating activities, including reading and writing, was associated with a 38% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also examined whether participants had been read to as children, underscoring how early experiences with books can help establish habits that last a lifetime.
“Reading is not something we outgrow,” Muraski said. “It is the first story a parent shares with a child, the book that helps a student discover new possibilities, the courage an adult finds to return to learning and the connection we maintain with the world as we grow older. Every page matters because every person’s story matters.”
During Literacy Month, Operation Read invites community members to celebrate reading in meaningful ways: share a book with a child, visit a local library, write a letter, volunteer, or help place books into the hands of someone who needs them.
While the grant provides important support, Operation Read’s work continues to depend on volunteers, individual donors, businesses, and community partners. Those interested in supporting local literacy programs, making a donation, or learning about upcoming volunteer opportunities may contact DeeAnna Muraski at deeanna@operationreadusa.org
To learn more about Operation Read, its programs, or opportunities to support literacy throughout Kosciusko County, visit www.operationreadusa.org.
