FRANKLIN
Two local women, both friends of many years, have launched a two-day fundraiser for literacy beginning today, Dec. 17.

Andrea Hudson of Courtland and her friend Chelsea Jefferson from Franklin will have set up an account at www.youcaring.com, a social media fundraising site similar to www.gofundme.com.

Hudson is a consultant for Usbourn Books and More, an online company that sells books to children from infancy through teens. She said the business does book drives all over the country

Jefferson is a case manager at Jackson Feild Behavioral Health Services in Jarratt, which helps not only foster children, but also has parental placements. The non-profit agency, which began as an orphanage in 1855, now works with youth ages 11 to 21 who have a history of physical, emotional, and/or sexual trauma. The organization specializes in the treatment of trauma through the use of various therapies. They also help the children learn about trauma, how it affects the brain and body, and teach them healthier, more positive ways to manage their emotions.

The fundraiser, said Hudson, “is being held in honor of wonderful kids living in a local residential care facility who deserve some brightness in their holiday season. We are trying to give every child a personal book to have for themselves and also give books to the facility to use during their therapy sessions.”

She added, “Usborne is a very generous company and matches all donations made by 50 percent once donations reach $250. So your contribution of $50 becomes a donation of $75 worth of books.

“We’re trying to put a book in every child’s hands [at the facility] as close to Christmas as possible.”

To visit the site and contribute, go to jacksonfeildbehavioralhealthservices-1043369.