Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community recently donated more than 150 new books to Ascent Children’s Health Services in Arkadelphia.

“Meeting the needs of children in our city is a high priority for the Elrod Center,” said Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement. “We recognize the importance of reading in the development of a child and are pleased to provide books that will bring hours of joy to the children being served.”

Leigh Anne McKinney, coordinator of public school initiatives; Diane Runyan, administrative assistant at the Elrod Center; and Ashlyn Meece, student program assistant and a sophomore early childhood education major, recently delivered the books to Athena Holmes, Ascent’s early childhood coordinator, and Jan Lowry, administrative assistant.

“We look forward to delivering this gift of books each year,” McKinney noted. “It is our pleasure to see the eager acceptance of books by children who really appreciate having a book of their own to take home. It is a treat for us to spend time with the children at Ascent and we appreciate the warm welcome we always receive from staff and children there.

“This is the 10th consecutive year that funding through the Elrod Center made it possible for the center to provide these books,” she added. “We purchase board books suitable for babies and toddlers as well as sturdy paperback books for the older preschoolers. We are thankful for the opportunity to share with these children and to support the good work being done at Ascent Children’s Health Services.”

“Ascent Children’s Health Services would like to thank the Elrod Center for providing books for our children,” Holmes said. “It is always fun to see the look on each child’s face as they pick their own book and bring it home with them.”

Ouachita Baptist University established the Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community in 1997 to encourage, coordinate and facilitate public service, volunteerism and community engagement throughout the state and region. For information about the programs of the Elrod Center, call 870-245-5320 or visit www.obu.edu/elrod.



Top Photo: Ouachita Baptist University’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community recently donated more than 150 new books to Ascent Children’s Health Services in Arkadelphia. Leigh Anne McKinney, coordinator of public school initiatives; and Ashlyn Meece, student program assistant, presented the books to Athena Holmes, Ascent’s early childhood coordinator, and Jan Lowry, administrative assistant.