By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Volunteers are needed once again to read at St. Joseph elementary schools as part of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph's Reading Adventures program.
After tackling seven St. Joseph elementary schools last fall, United Way will send volunteers into the other schools in the winter to read to students starting later this month.
Director of Community Investment Jodi Flurry says the program is a great way to connect and encourage literacy and reading in students
“All kids need help with reading, all kids could use support,” Flurry tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And we recognize we’re just a drop in the bucket when it comes to literacy, but if we can get kids excited about reading then they’re more likely to read on their own as well.”
Flurry says the program also gives students a chance to show off for volunteers, and volunteers to see the excitement and how hard students are working in the classroom setting.
Starting later this month, United Way will partner with Carden Park, Coleman, Hosea, Lindbergh, Parkway, Pershing and Pickett elementary schools to connect children with a reading volunteer through the program.
Flurry says volunteers have an impact on students by helping spread a love of reading teach literacy
"For some of the programs we’re reading to kindergarteners, so you’re reading to the kiddo, because they can’t read yet, but they’re listening to the cadence, they’re listening to the words, they’re understanding how a story flows, and those are concepts that help build up to literacy and actually reading on their own,” Flurry explains.
Flurry says many love this program, a simple way to volunteer, and anyone and everyone have shown up in years past
“We’ve had parents, we’ve had college students, we’ve had retirees, and everybody in between, because maybe your kids are grown and now you’re a grandparent, or you’re jjust a young adult and you want to give back to the community and you’ve got an hour to spare, this is a great way to do it” Flurry says. “We’ve had a service fraternity from Missouri Western come out and volunteer for this before, and it’s awesome to see those young adults engaging with the kids, it’s so much fun.”
If you are interested in volunteering, contact the United Way of Greater St. Joseph. You can also donate new or gently used books to send home with students.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.