Jennifer Anchors: Contributor
United Way's ReadingPals program is an early literacy initiative focused on enlisting, training and engaging volunteer “reading coaches” to increase the number of students who read at grade level by the end of kindergarten. This then, in turn, increases the number of children reading at grade level at third grade. Volunteers commit to one hour a week in a local kindergarten setting. ReadingPal volunteers are assigned two children at a school and meet with them once a week for an hour, 30 minutes per child, from September through May. ReadingPal volunteers may choose to volunteer longer than one hour a week. Little by little and through the power of volunteers, the ReadingPals program is helping students succeed in all academic areas of learning. “Our ReadingPals volunteers come from all walks of life – some are retired, some work and some are in high school. It does not take a particular background to be a successful ReadingPal,” says Jennifer Anchors, Executive Director of United Way of Suwannee Valley. The program started in the fall of 2015 and grew rapidly until the pandemic. It has now returned and the need for volunteers is even greater. “Hopefully at the end of the year, we’ll be able to sign all our volunteers up again for next year, said Anchors. “That is our goal, as we would like to see all 57 return, as well as grow our impact.” A grant from Carol and Barney Barnett through the Children’s Movement of Florida, an extension of Publix Super Markets, funds the program. “Far too many children start kindergarten and don’t know their ABCs, how to count to 10, their colors, shapes, but by the time they’re done with the program, the extra time and help from a ReadingPal volunteer goes a long way,” says Anchors. ReadingPals are located at Hamilton Elementary, Suwannee Riverside and in Columbia County – Pinemount, Westside, Summers, Eastside and Melrose Elementary Schools. Interested individuals may choose to volunteer at any of these locales. Contact United Way of Suwannee Valley at (386) 752-5604 ext. 104 or via email at ReadingPals@unitedwsv.org for more information. United Way of Suwannee Valley fights for the education, health and financial stability of every person in our community, utilizing volunteers on all levels to advance the common good by identifying unmet community needs and seeking to alleviate those needs through United Way of Suwannee Valley initiatives and the funding of 11 affiliated health and human service agencies