Tuesday, October 21, 9 a.m.
Penny Press Puzzle Lady Class
O'Fallon YMCA
284 N. Seven Hills Rd.
You do not have to be a YMCA member to attend.
Thursday, November 6, 9:30 a.m.
Keystone Place at Richland Creek
1050 Fountain Lakes Dr, O'Fallon, IL 62269
Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
The Cambridge House
844 Cambridge Blvd., O'Fallon, IL
November 3, 2025
Private home daycare provider book giveaway
November 4, 2025
Private home daycare provider book giveaway
November 11, 2025
Private home daycare provider book giveaway
Private home daycare provider book giveaway
November 4, 2025
Private home daycare provider book giveaway
November 11, 2025
Private home daycare provider book giveaway
October 20, 2025
Noon Rotary Club
O'Fallon, IL
Noon Rotary Club
O'Fallon, IL
October 18, 2025
October 8, 2025
Belle Clair Rotary Club
Tavern on Main
Belleville, IL
October 10, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Senior Health Fair
Puzzle Class demonstrations
O'Fallon YMCA
284 N. Seven Hills Rd.
You do not have to be a YMCA member to attend.
August 8, 2025, 2 PM to 6 PM
CARITAS FAMILY SOLUTIONS
Back-to-School Event
900 Royal Heights Rd.
Belleville, IL 62226
In collaboration with Caritas, families will receive a bag of 25 books, including titles for both adults and children.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 11:15 a.m.
Daugherty Public Library
220 South Fifth Street, Dupo, IL 62239
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
CARITAS FAMILY SOLUTIONS
Back-to-School Event
900 Royal Heights Rd.
Belleville, IL 62226
In collaboration with Caritas, families will receive a bag of 25 books, including titles for both adults and children.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 11:15 a.m.
Daugherty Public Library
220 South Fifth Street, Dupo, IL 62239
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Cahokia Heights Public Library
140 Cahokia Park Dr, Cahokia Heights, IL 62206
Summer Programs BBQ
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Columbia Public Library
106 N. Metter Ave, Columbia, IL 62236
Tales to Tails (Read to Dog)
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m.
Belleville Public Library
121 E. Washington St.
Summer Reading Program Signups Continue
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Granite City Public Library Family Fun Festival
2001 Delmar Avenue, Granite City, IL 62040
Will Stuck Summer Reading Performance
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Monday, June 2, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
Fairmont City Public Library, IL , Mississippi Valley Library District
4444 Collinsville Road, Fairmont City, IL 62201
Giant Game Day Summer Kick-Off
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Monday, May 5, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Book giveaway at Little Stars Daycare
324 Flagstone Dr., Belleville, IL, 62221
Families at this daycare will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Saturday, May 24, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
East St. Louis Public Library, IL
In collaboration with this library, families (whether regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Saturday, May 31, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
Collinsville Public Library, Il. Mississippi Valley Library District
In collaboration with this library, families (whether they are regular visitors or new families who have seen the flyer) will receive a bag of 25 books with titles for adults and children.
Rest in Peace, First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Click here to learn more.
Linda Edmonds Mitchell worked as a press advance person for First Lady Rosalynn Carter after college. Linda poses with her in front of Air Force One at the end of one of the trips. Mrs. Carter was always kind enough to pose with staff who helped on the trip.
Linda Mitchell, executive director of the Metro East Literacy Project, went to a Liberia, Africa, for a literacy mission to teach how to read.
I have a gift for you.
GRATITUDE.
Everything that happened through the Metro East Literacy Project (MELP) in 2023 was because of your support, encouragement, and generosity.
THANK YOU!
A Look Back at MELP in 2023
Note: Tap the image for more information.
Celebrate National Seniors Day/National Grandparents Day Reading Event
Literacy Lollapalooza Practice Event
The Literacy Lollapalooza Practice Event was a blast. Sign up for the newsletter to receive updates about the fundraiser event coming in 2024.
Check out a few scenes from the event.
Check out a few scenes from the event.
Celebrating National Senior Citizens Day 2022
IntroToSeniorReadingEvent2022 by lmitchell50
Metro East Literacy Project volunteers read to senior citizens at the Clyde C. Jordan Senior Center in East St. Louis, Illinois on Friday, September 9, 2022. This was the third year for this event. Volunteers included employees of Cork Tree Creative Marketing, homeschool children, and supporters of literacy.
Celebrating Juneteenth
Linda Mitchell read "Free At Last" at the Juneteenth event hosted by the O'Fallon, IL NAACP at the public library.
Encouragement Volunteer Trainings
Michelle's Place Child Care Center, Cahokia, Illinois
Training at the O'Fallon, IL Public Library. Guest speaker Dr. Jef Williams discussed trauma in families.
Young Leaders Institute
Linda Mitchell, first row, third from right, spoke to the Young Leaders of the O'Fallon-Shiloh, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, about how the mission and genesis of the Metro East Literacy Project, on May 18, 2022.
The Literacy Landscape of Walmart
MELP executive director Linda Mitchell speaks at the grand reopening of the O'Fallon, Illinois Walmart on May 17, 2022. MELP is a recipient of a Walmart Community grant.
Linda Mitchell speaking and receiving a $1,000 grant from the Walmart Community Foundation on July 1, 2022, in Belleville, IL.