Educators tell us reading has never been so important in the teaching of schoolchildren. PPL employees in the Hazleton area cherish reading so strongly they took to the classroom on April 12 to spread that appreciation among elementary students.

Three employees participated in the fourth annual Community Reading Day sponsored by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce.

"We wanted to show these students how important reading is to their success in the classroom and beyond," said Martha Herron, PPL's community development director for the Hazleton area. "By demonstrating our love for reading and our willingness to share that with others, we can convey to these students the value of reading."

The three PPL employees were Florie McNelis, Pam Yale and Anna Jean Onuschak.

McNelis, a customer programs director in Hazleton, read to the second grade at Holy Trinity School in Hazleton. She had the privilege of reading to her son, Connor, a student there.

Yale, a customer representative in Hazleton, read at Holy Spirit Academy.

Onuschak, an electrical equipment repairman, read to the second grade at St. John's.