By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The United Way of Greater St. Joseph is asking for volunteers to help get into St. Joseph elementary schools to read with children.
United Way Reading Adventure, a program launched in 2011, works to help students maintain and improve their reading skills.
Director of Community Investment Jodi Flurry says the program began as a summer reading program but has grown in recent years.
"Probably about 2013 we expanded into reading with school age children in the schools during the school year, so that's what we're here to recruit volunteers for right now, is we need volunteers to read with children in the elementary schools here in the St. Joseph School District," Flurry tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.
Flurry says after serving five St. Joseph schools in the fall, starting on the 27th volunteers will go into nine elementary schools.
"This is our first time we've ever been able to reach all of the St. Joseph School District elementaries with United Way Reading Adventure, so that means we need a lot of volunteers," Flurry says.
Volunteers will help students read at Coleman, Ellison, Gene Field, Hyde, Lindbergh, Oak Grove, Parkway, Pickett and Skaith elementary schools.
Flurry says this program is an easy way to start if you've never volunteered before or are looking for a volunteer opportunity with a short time commitment.
"Most reading sessions last an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes, that's total, the entire amount of time that you are on site at a school, so it's a short time commitment," Flurry explains. "And you volunteer for the sessions that work for you, so maybe you want to read at Lindbergh Elementary School, but one of the days you have a doctor's appointment, that's fine, you just don't register for that session it's based on the availability of the volunteer."
To volunteer to read you can contact Flurry at the United Way offices or register online. Books can also be donated to be given to students through the program.
The program will begin on January 27th with the Oak Grove first grade class.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.