USC’s Cocky visiting Hampton, Allendale counties

ALLENDALE, S.C. (AP) — More than 700 elementary school children in Hampton and Allendale counties are getting a chance to read with Cocky.

The University of South Carolina says the mascot is meeting with kids Friday with a visit from Cocky’s Reading Express.

The school says the traveling literacy program is a joint effort of its School of Library and Information Science and Student Government Association. It’s visited all seven elementary schools in the two counties with literacy programs for students in pre-kindergarten through first grade and their families.

Each child receives seven books, and families get literacy kits with tips on making reading a family experience. So far, more than 5,000 books have been distributed.

The programs are made possible through a $64,000 grant from the Barbara Bush Family Literacy Foundation.