Two Richmond County groups have received a share of $270,000 in grants the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has distributed statewide.
The Friends of the Hamlet Library was awarded $2,000 and the fledgling My Next Move project, $1,500.
“Gosh, that’s awesome,” said Jane McCall of the Friends board of directors, who was unaware of receiving the grant. “That will go to our summer reading program.”
Sharon Harris of My Next Move has similar plans for her grant.
Harris founded My Next Move last year. She said Friday that she would use her grant to promote summer reading among 10- to 18-year-olds “trying to be free of substance abuse.”
The grant, she said, would allow her to “put more energy into 10 to 15 youth during the summer.”
Dollar General announced this week that it would distribute its grants to nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools within a 20-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center. The North Carolina grants are intended to reach more than 16,000 North Carolinians.
“We believe these programs can have a positive impact on the communities we serve,” said company CEO Todd Vasos. “We look forward to continuing to partner with organizations dedicated to making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans.”
Statewide grants are part of more than $8.3 million the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded this week.