The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) and Black Press’s Reach a Reader campaign raised $12,687 over the month of October to support literacy programs across the Kootenay-Boundary region. In Invermere alone, $453.26 was raised on Wednesday, October 7th when CBAL and Valley Echo staff took to the street, handing out copies of The Echo in exchange for donations. This year, Kootenay Savings Credit Union partnered on the campaign and also matched any online donations. Pictured is CBAL Regional Program Manager Desneiges Profili.