NSB Proud to Assist Bridgton Organization Helping Kids Thrive in “Long Run”

BRIDGTON—“If it were not for Team Long Run and their generous donors, the majority of my students would never get to know what it’s like to have books to read at home with their families.” The words of Jodi Ellis, Principal of Rumford and Meroby Elementary Schools, are equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. Based in Bridgton, Team Long Run is a non-profit organization that uses reading and active play to offer children in Maine’s rural communities a brighter future. The group’s early reading programs are designed to help young children catch up by the time they reach kindergarten and then keep them reading at grade-appropriate levels throughout their academic careers. At the same time, Team Long Run has also developed a number of in-school and after-school active play programs that have been implemented with great success. 

“We’re the only nonprofit we know of to merge active play with reading, resulting in a readiness to learn. We collaborate and work exclusively with Title 1 elementary schools (more than 50% of families are below poverty level) and Head Start centers,” said Hilary Harper-Wilcoxen, who is the Executive Director of Team Long Run. “All of the programs are free to the kids and have been developed over time to be easily shared and extremely cost-effective.”

Thanks to individual and business donors, Team Long Run has also been able to provide hundreds of running shoes to children who need them and the gift of reading to thousands more.

“Our early literacy programs serve underserved kids from newborns to 11-year-olds in rural Maine. In many homes, reading at home is a rarity and early illiteracy is the norm,” said Chuck Wilcoxen, Founder and Mission Director of Team Long Run. “We have given away over 13,000 books to more than 3,000 children in the last five years.”

“The day books are delivered is just like Christmas to our students,” said Jodi. “You see nothing but smiling faces and sometimes students literally jump with joy when they find out they get to take the book home.”

Norway Savings Bank has been inspired to financially support Team Long Run for over six years, including a $2,000 contribution this month.

“Norway Savings Bank is such a force for good in our communities. All children deserve to be able to develop as readers and learners early on, and we love to have NSB’s support in that work,” said Hilary. “It enriches hundreds of children in high-poverty, low-literacy homes.”

“We believe early literacy is supported and encouraged through our active play programs like Sizzle and Pop, which helps develop balance and gross motor skills in children, especially when presented with movement-centric books,” said Chuck. “As the kids get older, Sizzle and Pop introduces simple and fun exercises and then more challenging ones. It all develops balance and strength.”

Through the materials, themes, and collaboration, the organization is successfully getting students what they need to catch up, keep up, and thrive…in the long run.

“Every child deserves a chance to succeed, and Team Long Run is doing what it can to make that happen with sensitivity and creativity,” said Dan Walsh, President and CEO of Norway Savings Bank. “Their tireless efforts have made a huge difference in helping those who need it most, and we are grateful for their passion and purpose.”

For more information about Team Long Run, including ways you can help, visit www.teamlongrun.org.