Scholastic, the global childrens publishing, education, and media company, has donated over 100 hardcover books to Carols Corner at Sheepscot Valley Health Center in Whitefield.
Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, has donated over 100 hardcover books to Carol’s Corner at Sheepscot Valley Health Center in Whitefield.
Carol’s Corner offers free books to young readers at Sheepscot Valley Health Center and was established after Carol Eckert, a beloved physician and community member, passed away in a cycling accident on her 63rd birthday.
Dr. Leslie Blum, a physician with Premise Health who worked with Eckert for some time, facilitated the donation from Scholastic after reaching out to Dr. Roy Miller, the now-retired physician from Sheepscot Valley Health Center.
Scholastic heads up multiple philanthropic endeavors that not only support schools in need across the United States in a number of ways, but also contributes to and leads national literacy initiatives “to better prepare children for reading and learning” and “provide donations of quality books to children in underserved communities.”
Sheepscot Valley Health Center Inc., the community board of the health center, has hosted program fundraisers responsible for generating upward of $1,000.
“Doing (this program) in memory of Carol has helped all of us heal. With each book that’s added to the bookshelf, I can’t help but think of her and how happy she would be that we’re providing kids with books,” project organizer Julie Bailey said.
Eckert was a physician at Sheepscot Valley Health Center for more than 30 years and specialized in family practice. She was known for her own philanthropic pursuits — she served as medical director of the Maine Community Accountable Care Organization and was a medical consultant for Social Security Disability Services, among other endeavors for Maine people.
HealthReach Community Health Centers is a group of 11 federally qualified health centers in central and western Maine. Dedicated providers deliver high-quality medical and behavioral health care to citizens in over 80 rural communities. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurances. In addition, an affordable care program is available to uninsured and underinsured residents as well as assistance with applications for programs that help with the cost of health care and medications, including the health insurance marketplace. A private, nonprofit organization celebrating a 44-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants, and individual donations.
