Around 870 parents, guardians and children filled the Early Learning Village library for Literacy Luau Family Fun Night on Jan. 26. 

“The event was free and 1,845 gently used and new books were collected for the event,” Debbie Cumbie the Family Resource Center Coordinator said.

Those who attended the luau were allowed to pick out at least four books to take with them. 

The Early Learning Village in Jessamine County hosts three Family Fun Night events a year. Literacy night in January, a transition family fun night in May to help students transition from kindergarten to first grade and a“Hoe Down” in October.

“In January our theme differs each year,” Cumbie said. “But the basic premise each year is the basis of reading as a family.” 

Many stations ran by 70 different staff members focused on families interacting together through literacy activities, such as rhyming and reading books to children. 

The Early Learning Village received donated books for the event from places in the community such as the Jessamine County Public Library, Half Price Books (Lexington),  Wilmore Free Methodist Church and Cornerstone Baptist Church. Children from the Early Learning Village donated their own books as well. 

“There are a lot of families here with high needs,” Cumbie said. “I find that really amazing that we can promote reading as a family.”  

Around 870