We’d like to think that every young child is read to and sung to every day, to his or her heart’s content.

Unfortunately, there are many children who miss out on early literacy experiences. By the time they enter school, kids who haven’t been read to are likely to be behind by as much as a year and a half in language ability. Chances are they’ll have a difficult time catching up.

That’s why it’s so important for people who love reading and enjoy kids to step in and break that cycle or, better yet, stop it before it gets started.

• Volunteer Opportunities
  READ! 365 will seek out children who need more reading in their lives. We will also seek out volunteers to fill those needs, and work with literacy agencies throughout the area to make sure those connections happen.
  
  Volunteers are needed to read throughout the day – perhaps at lunch time at a local school or with an after-school program at a community center or at a nearby library or storymobile program. Volunteers will be assigned according to their availability, and training will be provided.
  
  
• Rewarding Experiences
  No matter where or how you volunteer, you can be certain you’ll make a real difference in a child’s life. That’s what reader-volunteers love about the work they’re doing, and it’s what keeps them coming back week after week. 

Here are a few wonderful opportunities.

READ! 365 can help connect interested volunteers to the following agencies.  For more information please contact the READ! 365 office at 412-361-8560 x 216 or on line at info@read365.org. 

Read Together, a program of Beginning with Books, is a wonderful opportunity for a volunteer to read with a child,

3-8 years old, on a weekly basis at 18 local libraries. Pairs meet during the day, after school or on Saturdays. At least a six month commitment is requested. Interview, references, application, orientation/training and clearances are required.

Everybody Wins, another program of Beginning with Books, promotes the Power Lunch with its lunchtime literacy and mentoring program. Pittsburgh Public School elementary school students are matched one-to-one with volunteers to share lunch, conversation and good books. Partners meet 45 minutes each week and are asked to commit for one school year. Two partners may alternate weeks and share a student. This is a great corporate opportunity for lunch hour volunteering. A brief orientation/training (often at a company site) and Act 33/34 clearances are required. Volunteers may submit paperwork for clearances through Beginning with Books.

ExtraOrdinary Tutoring

Housed at East Liberty Presbyterian Church in the heart of East Liberty, volunteers serve as much needed tutors to assist local children with reading, math and other school subjects and homework. Volunteers are matched 1:1 with a child once/week on the same day and time. This program runs from September to June (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings) and does NOT require clearances.

Family Resources

Reading Skills invites volunteers to read with children on a one-to-one basis or to small groups. The program runs after school from October-May. The children range in age from 6-12 years old. A minimum of once/week for two hours or two to three days/week for one hour each day is requested, with evening slots available. There are 18 sites, most of which are in Pittsburgh although they do have a few in the suburbs. Interview, references, resume/application, orientation/training and Act 33/34 clearances are required.

Pittsburgh International Children's Theatre

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater presents professional theater from around the world for children and families at affordable prices. Each year, the organization presents a Family Series October through March, as well as the International Children’s Festival each May.

For more information call 412.321.5520 or

marketin@pghkids.org

Salvation Army Tutoring

Volunteers have the opportunity to work either work with a student on a one-to one basis or with a small group. This program operates in East Liberty on Thursdays ONLY from 5:30-6pm each week.

UP for Reading on the North Side/Manchester

This program runs every Monday afternoon from 2:45-5:15 pm during the school year. Volunteers are matched with children (6-9 years old) on a one-to-one basis. Training and Act 33/34 clearances are required.

Volunteer Today!