A Lincoln County group on a quest to put books in every child’s hands will receive a grant from Entergy to help with its mission.

Ferst Readers of Lincoln County is one of 17 non-profit community partners that received funding from the company’s shareholders through the Entergy Charitable Foundation. The first of two rounds of grants totaled nearly $187,000 to be shared between the organizations.

“Ferst Readers addresses one of the most basic issues of childhood literacy — ensuring the availability of quality books in the home so that parents can read to their child,” said Pam Womack, of Brookhaven.

Parents can sign up their child for free at the Lincoln County Public Library or online at www.ferstreaders.org. The child will receive one book each month — along with a parent’s guide with directions for activities and discussions based on the book. Once a child is signed up, they’ll receive an age-appropriate book each month until their fifth birthday.

Womack and other volunteers have signed up more than 1,100 Lincoln County children to the program since it started two and a half years ago.

Womack also needs donors to contribute to the program. It costs $36 to provide books to a child for one year. For $40, a specific recipient for the books can be selected, such as a grandchild, niece or nephew.

“It’s a fabulous baby gift,” Womack said.

To find out more about the program, call Womack at 601-320-4304.

Entergy provides funding and support for initiatives that help build stronger, healthier and more vibrant communities through the Entergy Charitable Foundation. This year’s first round grant cycle awarded more than $2 million to 73 nonprofit organizations working across Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York and Texas.

Entergy Charitable Foundation grants are awarded twice a year. The second grant cycle opened July 1 with an Aug. 1 deadline.

For grant application guidelines, visit www.entergy.com and click on “our community” and then “ECF grant guidelines.”