Ferst Readers of Polk County will soon be bringing members of the community together later this month to host their annual fundraiser to help ensure local youth continue receiving a book free of charge from the time they are born through the first years of their life.

Debbie Ross, Regional Program Coordinator for Ferst Readers, said that the 7th annual An Afternoon with the Authors will be different this year and those who are in attendance for the annual silent auction of gift baskets and cakes will have to wear a mask and socially distance if they want to participate.

“She’s well known nationally, won many awards,” Ross said. “We think it’s big that we have her.”

The February 21 event at In the Woods in Rockmart will run from 2 to 4 p.m.

You can listen to the entire interview with Ross in this latest episode of Talking Points on Polk.Today during part 1 of the podcast.

The event will also host a talk with author Karen White, and if possible will provide a virtual option for those who won’t be attending.

“There will be our baskets full of autographed books and gift items donated by the community,” Ross said. “We also have locally wonderful bakers in the community, and they always provide us with wonderful cakes. The only difference is we’re not sampling the cakes, we’re not serving food and we’re not serving drinks… We’ll have social distancing sitting at the tables.”

Both the cities of Cedartown and Rockmart also showed their support for the upcoming fundraiser with proclamations honoring Ferst Readers and efforts to bring the community together to read White’s “The Night the Lights Went Out” throughout this month leading up to the February 21 event.

The novel is based in a suburb of Atlanta provides the reader with mysteries to unwind as the main character Merilee Talbot Dunlap starts over her life in a fictional Georgia town of Sweet Apple. Ross said that “you have to read to the last chapter to find out where the title came from, and it’s a very, thought-provoking and interesting book.”

The Perch on Marble in Rockmart, along with The Brave Sparrow and the Polk County Historical Society in Cedartown, have copies of the book for sale.

Ross said a virtual book club is being held to provide the opportunity for readers to discuss the novel as they read it through the month, and there’s still chances to take part in those events happening online. It’s called the Sweet Apple Book Club and two more sessions are coming up for those interested.

For those unable to attend the upcoming fundraiser on February 21, Ferstreaders.org has the ability to allow individuals to make direct donations to the organization locally. Also, Ross said that donations for baskets to be auctioned off are still being accepted and are appreciated.

All proceeds from the upcoming fundraiser ensure that Ferst Readers of Polk County are able to provide books to children from birth to age five in order to increase the literacy rates among lower-income children before they enter their school years. Books are sent monthly to homes with age-appropriate titles to help with that goal free of charge to families who sign up for the program.

Ferst Readers was founded in 1999, and for more than two decades have utilized Community Action Teams to do the work of fundraising and signing up parents to receive books. More than 1,000 youth in Polk County find a book in the mail on a monthly basis at the moment, according to Ross. The cost is only $40 a year, and comes with materials for parents as well. Any child is eligible, and parents can sign up until children are the age of 4.

“They need funding. This doesn’t just happen,” Ross said. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we please ask that people come participate.”