United Way in need of volunteers for summer reading program

Jazmine Knight, St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.
·2 min read

May 15—United Way's Reading Adventure program is looking for special volunteers to help read to school-age children.

The program, launched in 2011, helps kids maintain their reading skills over the summer to avoid a dip in their capabilities.

"They will leave school next week and they may not pick up a book again until they go back to school at the end of August," said Jodi Flurry, director of community investment for United Way.

For volunteers, the process is simple. United Way provides the books, the site and the students. All volunteers have to do is read to the kids. Volunteers are paired in a group of about three or four students around the same age or reading level. The volunteer will read for about 30 minutes.

"You might be reading with kiddos and actually reading to them because they're just going into kindergarten or first grade," Flurry said. "Or maybe you would read with a group of fourth graders ... in that setting, you would take a page, the child would take a page. The next child would take a page, and you'd go round in a circle."

The goal is to get children excited to read, especially during their free time.

"When they have people come in and share their time, they're excited to be there," Flurry said.

But it's not just volunteers that they need; books are also welcomed if they are gently used.

Those interested can register by giving United Way a call at (816) 364-2381 or by visiting its website at stjosephunitedway.org/pie. From there, volunteers get to pick their availability, whether it be a one-time reading or a schedule.

"This is also a great program. If you have maybe a middle school or high school or that needs service hours or you want something for them to do," she said.

For Flurry, the best part is seeing the kids fall in love with reading and getting to know their volunteers.

"When you see a volunteer who is able to come every week to a site and the kids are like, 'That's my volunteer. She's with us,' And they claim them. You know, there's a bond that's being made and that's going to impact the kids," said Flurry.