OXFORD — Oxford Area PFLAG’s Rainbow Reading Program delivered almost 200 books to elementary schools in Talawanda School District.

Linda Slager Boardman, President of Oxford Area PFLAG headed up the ordering, organizing and delivery of almost 200 juvenile books to the libraries of Marshall, Bogan and Kramer Elementary Schools last week.

The Rainbow Reading Program was an initiative that the local PFLAG Chapter took on after attending the Ohio PFLAG Conference in Dayton. Donations from Oxford Community Foundation: Hefner Fund and Robinson Tolerance Fund along with a significant individual donation from Sherry Lind provided the funds for the Rainbow Reading Program.

These include books on diversity, inclusion, gender identity, anti-bullying, physical and mental challenges, kindness, multiculturalism, immigrants and self-awareness. These are available to all the teachers and after cataloging, all the students as well as their families.

This is the second phase of the Rainbow Reading initiative. Last Fall, Talawanda High School English teachers received baskets of books for their classrooms. Next up is the Talawanda Middle School, which has already reached out to Oxford Area PFLAG for a list of books that embrace diversity and tolerance.

Oxford Area PFLAG will be hosting a community picnic on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Leonard Howell Park on Bonham Road from 5-7 p.m. As dinner will be provided, organizers are asking those attending to email [email protected] to RSVP.