LANSING, Mich. — Delta Dental teamed up with state lawmakers in Lansing Wednesday for National Reading Month, which begins March 1.
The company gave lawmakers and their staff members tote bags full of health materials and books so they can give them to kids in their home districts.
"Children are missing 51 million hours of school each year due to oral health issues, and children who are not reading proficiently by the 4th grade are four times more likely to drop out of school as their more proficient counterparts," said Kimberly Garland, manager of the Delta Dental Foundation.
Each bag included toothbrushes, bookmarks, storybooks and materials for teachers, so they can promote proper dental hygiene in their classrooms.
