Buying A Christmas Gift Can Benefit Utica Young Scholars Program [VIDEO]

Have a reader on your Christmas list?  Here's a way you can get a gift and help a young student at the same time.  The Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program(YSLPP) will be hosting a Book Fair at Barnes and Noble in New Hartford December 12. Here's how you can help.

YSLPP is a combined effort of Utica City Schools and Utica College to help students who show great promise but are hampered by a social or economic barrier.  Executive Director, Pam Matt says the students are "identified by 6th grade teachers in the 10 elementary schools."  Once in the program, the students continue with the program through high school.

"Pam adds the program receives about 250 applications a year, but can only support about 60 students financially."  You can help by attending their Book Fair December 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Barnes and Noble. Here's a list of activities for all ages.

• Face Painting and Airbrush Tattoos by The Frozen Princess 2-4
• Big Frog 104's Jeremiah B Frog
• Story Hour For Kids
• Adult Coloring Book Station
• Science Demonstration
• Creative Writing Station
• Young Scholars Singing Christmas Carols
• Free Gift Wrapping 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

If you can't make the Book Fair, you can still help with online orders December 12 through December 17.  Just use this Book Fair ID - 11740065 - at checkout.