FOLEY — The South Baldwin Literacy Council is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with several events.

First, this summer, there will be a new twist on the annual summer reading program Flat Foley.

Third graders will have the opportunity to work on a Flat Stanley project that will connect them with other readers around the country, said Susan Bartholomew, youth services and communications supervisor.

Bartholomew said they are also encouraging parents and members of community to get involved with the project.

"We want parents to take videos of themselves reading with Flat Foley to get the kids motivated to read," Bartholomew said. "We are also working with the mayor, fire chief and principals for the project."

According to Bartholomew, the format of the reading program will remain the same as previous years.

"We have an around-the-world theme each year, and the kids learn about seven continents and 40 countries in seven weeks, reading a book for each country," Bartholomew said. "The kids will come, and we have themed days with food, crafts and stories from each country. We also make passports for the kids, and they get a stamp for each country."

Bartholomew said the program has partnered with Culver's restaurant this year, and participants of the reading challenge can redeem their reading list for free ice cream and kid's meal coupons.

Camp registration is open, and the cost is $50 for the six-week program.

As for the rest of the year, Bartholomew said there are several fundraisers, social media campaigns and a new building set to open later this year.

"We were founded in 1983 by 12 men who went to Mobile to teach fishermen how to read and write," Bartholomew said. "Now we have 1,200 GED and youth students, and we gave away 12,000 books last year to children in school."

Bartholomew said the biggest challenge for the literacy council has been providing the space for their growing student population.

"We have more and more students and tutors coming in, but we don't have the space in the office," Bartholomew said. "When we open the new building, we will move the adult programs there and have the main office for the kids."

"We are slowly getting back into schools. Since Covid we have had to adapt and learn new ways to get people involved," Bartholomew said. "But we want people to continue finding out who we are and know that we are a light in the community to help others.