The L4GA grant program is ending, but school system officials said its impact will have long-lasting effects.

The Liberty County School System received $3 million under L4GA — Literacy for Learning, Living and Leading — over five years, beginning in 2020. The grant was put to use at four schools, including the pre-kindergarten center, Button Gwinnett Elementary School, Snelson-Golden Middle School and Bradwell Institute, to improve literacy, said Brooke Smith, the school system assistant director of federal programs and grants accounting.

“There are immeasurable gains in every form,” she told board members at their Tuesday morning work session. “I believe that the impact remains.”

Under the grant, more than 37,000 books were purchased, and more than 40 educators received and four will continue to be trainers.

Under L4GA, there were 4,000 interactions with book authors and illustrators and more than 3,000 students will continue to use an interactive playground.

The grant also was used to buy 4,000 books for teachers, and academic specialists will continue to teach writing. Educators also have material and information gained from content-specific workshops. Future students will learn letters and sounds through Classrooms Alive.

Also under L4GA, four paraprofessionals became certified teachers at Snelson- Golden. More than 14,000 books were bought so students could establish their athome libraries. Over 6,000 books were purchased for classroom libraries.

L4GA also brought in Share Your Story at Button Gwinnett and one student became a published author under it for her book “A Trip to El Salvador,” which is available on Amazon.

Over 10,000 books were distributed as incentives for behavior and academic achievement, and L4GA also set up the first book vending machine in county schools.

“Due to L4’s influence, there is going to be a book vending machine in every school, with help from a grant the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce obtained,” Smith said.

The Engage and Beta clubs at Bradwell will continue to stock the 10 Little Free Libraries that were set up across the community under L4GA. Also, the grant funded a literacy bag to go with each bed built under the Rotary Club’s “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” initiative.

“My grandson brings home books all the time and he just loves reading,” 1st District board member Lavonia Lecounte said. “I would love to see one of those Little Free Libraries in Riceboro.”

The United Way of the Coastal Empire’s Read United program will step in to buy 25,000 books for children each year, to buttress what the grant accomplished.

The program began with 17 partners and ended with 32 partners, providing more than 40,000 books during its five years.

Smith offered her gratitude to Leah Gumataotao, Kellie Zeigler, Stephanie Clark and Janice Horne at the central office for helping her with the grant’s work the last five years.

“I could not have done any of this without their help,” she said. “I am very thankful for their support. I learned a lot.”