Mailman鈥檚 appeal to get a boy books goes viral: Do we need better access to reading programs?
Utah boasts one of the country鈥檚 highest literacy rates and a respectable array of public reading programs, from after-school mentoring initiatives to storytelling events. But what if it鈥檚 summer, and you can鈥檛 get to the local library?
That鈥檚 what people are wondering this week as the tale of one little boy in suburban Salt Lake City went viral when 12-year-old Mathew Flores asked his mailman if he had any junk mail for him to read.
Mathew didn鈥檛 have any books at home, and he was fishing through a junk mail bin for newspapers and ads to read, according to . When the postal worker told him there were books at the library, he said he couldn鈥檛 afford to take the bus there.
The mailman, Ron Lynch, posted a photo of Mathew to Facebook, along with an appeal to his friends. 鈥淗e told me his wish is to have books to read,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淪o ... let's get this 12 year old some books! Let's help him. I was given many books as a child, and it's time to help someone else!鈥澛�
In a matter of days, Mathew had received reported Fox News.
The response has been 鈥渙verwhelming,鈥� wrote Mr. Lynch. 鈥淚'm thrilled his needs are being met. You're all angels!鈥�
By the time Lynch stopped by to drop off his first load of books at Mathew's house, donations had already arrived, according to .
鈥淭hey said, 鈥楾hese books are for you,鈥欌�� Mathew told the on Sunday. "I thought they were mistaken, but they were for me.鈥�
Bob Ostler, who said he is a UPS deliveryman to Mathew鈥檚 home, also expressed his admiration on Lynch鈥檚 Facebook page. 鈥淚t is amazing to see the stacks of boxes in my truck every day,鈥� he wrote, posting a picture of packages piled high. 鈥淵ou deserve a lot of credit for seeing a need and making a difference.鈥�
Mathew鈥檚 story shines a light on what The Daily Herald has called 鈥渁 looming crisis鈥� in Utah.
Nationally, the state enjoys one of the highest literacy rates, with more than 92 percent of adults able to read a newspaper, according to the from the National Center for Education. But children 鈥� especially in low-income situations like Mathew鈥檚 鈥� aren鈥檛 getting the support they need, reported the Herald鈥檚 Genelle Pugmire in a in Utah County.
Over the summer in particular, low-income students lose more than two months in reading achievement, according to the .
One initiative that could prove helpful is a neighborhood reading program, which was started by educational nonprofit United Way in Utah County and encourages volunteers to start homework and book clubs.
In other parts of the country, organizations have also brought tubs of books like Mathew鈥檚 for children to pick from.
Mathew has said that he plans on reading every book. His favorite story so far? 鈥淐aptain Underpants.鈥� Afterward, the little boy plans to donate them 鈥� something the mailman is also encouraging Americans to do throughout their own communities.
鈥淚f it weren鈥檛 for him I probably wouldn鈥檛 have any books right now," he聽. 鈥淚'm just super happy.鈥�
