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The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority altered its annual Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program put three books in each gift bag for the students. The bags are colorized and denoted by grades: Pre-K-1-Green; 2-4 grade-Pink; 5-8-Royal Blue; 9-12th grade-red bags.

RIF is an annual local celebration sponsored by the AKA’s Zeta Eta Omega Chapter, Women and Youth Services of Selma, in collaboration with Mayor Darrio Melton, the Selma City Council, and Dallas County Commissioners.

Melinda Page, RIF Chairman, said the coronavirus made it impossible to have the annual reading program.

“We will not be able to make connection because of COVID-19,” Page said. “It made things hard because there’s so many rules and regulations. We tried to abide by the COVID-19 guidelines.”
RIF Coordinator Nancy Sewell said the RIF’s national organization donated 1,500 books to its chapter in Selma.

Here’s the RIF schedule:

Tuesday: Rangedale Neighborhood Center, GWC Homes feeding site, Valley Creek Nutritional Center, Little Rock Church, all at 10 a.m.

Wednesday: Pine Glenn Community, Craig Industrial Park No. 37. Keith High School, Perry County/Wilcox County, all at 10 a.m.

Thursday: The House of Prayer-Selmont, Sardis Unity Fellowship and New Vernon Church-Marion Junction, all at 11 a.m.

Other RIF officers are Liz Rutledge, Women and Youth Services chairman, Karen Brown, Zeta Eta Omega Chapter President.