Want to help kids in the valley? Read with Me needs more volunteers — now

DeAnn Lubell
·3 min read
Statistics have shown that children tutored by volunteers progress on the average 50.7% more than the rest of those in their class.
Statistics have shown that children tutored by volunteers progress on the average 50.7% more than the rest of those in their class.

Read With Me Volunteer Programs was founded in 2004 by Roberta and Clay Klein when they learned from the Coachella Valley School District that local schools needed English-speaking role models to help students improve their English language skills.

The organization's mission evolved to help disadvantaged children who live in poverty and come from homes where no English is spoken. All research on the effectiveness of education indicates that if a child is not reading at grade level by third grade, they will drop out of high school and fail to succeed at work — and often get in trouble and wind up in prison. In 2004, only 51% of local students, mainly from the East Valley, graduated from high school. Now, 16 years later, 86.1% of local students graduate from high school.

Fully vaccinated volunteers are invited to commit two to three hours once or twice a week and may go to the school of their choice on the day or days of the week that is most convenient during the school season. For those who need transportation to remote East Valley schools, Read With Me Volunteer Programs provides three buses from Palm Desert and one bus from La Quinta. The volunteers are assigned to a specific grade level of their choosing and work under the direction of the teacher with children in small groups or one on one. The children read to the volunteer and the volunteer helps with pronunciation and comprehension by asking questions.

Fully vaccinated volunteers are invited to commit two to three hours once or twice a week helping children with their English and reading skills.
Fully vaccinated volunteers are invited to commit two to three hours once or twice a week helping children with their English and reading skills.

The children often express their love of the individual adult attention they receive, and the teachers express their appreciation for the volunteer help. Statistics have shown that children tutored by volunteers progress on the average 50.7% more than the rest of those in their class.

“I have so enjoyed, and am enjoying, working with fourth-grade kids in Mecca,” said volunteer Mary Frances Stuck. “Not only do the children read the assigned reading of the week with me but also materials that I prepare related to those readings, as well as current calendar events in the hope that they don’t get bored. This enables them to make connections from the readings in class to the larger world.”

At least twice a year, Read With Me Volunteer Programs also sponsors book giveaways at all schools to all 9,000 students participating in its programs. The children are thrilled to select and receive these new books that they can call their own.

“Thank you, Read With Me Volunteer Programs, for giving us free books,” said Altana, a student from Cathedral City Elementary School. “Now we can practice our reading. Reading every day makes you smarter, and you can learn new words.”

Read With Me Volunteer Programs demonstrate stunning proof that caring adults can change the path of a child’s life by helping them learn to read and succeed where English is the dominant language. Fluency is needed for all learning, including math and science.

“We invite you to share your time, expertise, and talent with us in our most joyful mission,” said Roberta. “Helping disadvantaged children become successful, contributing citizens in our local communities is extremely rewarding. We are accepting new and returning volunteers. We ask that you live here in the Coachella Valley, either part-time or full-time, in order to be a volunteer. Volunteers can be on campus when fully vaccinated. We will be holding in-school and after-school programs in person.”

For more information, call (760) 567-1830 or visit readwithmevolunteers.com.

DeAnn Lubell, writer, novelist and publicist, has represented nonprofits and businesses in the areas of marketing, event planning and fundraising productions in the Coachella Valley since 1991. She has served as a publicist for the McCallum Theatre since 2016 and is a PR and marketing representative for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley and Read With Me Volunteer Programs as well as her own newly founded nonprofit Amy's Purpose, an educational pet safety and predator awareness and counseling service.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Read With Me Volunteer Programs needs more volunteers now