Volunteer Opportunities:
ADULT & FAMILY LITERACY (2-3 hours per week; training is 12 hours, broken into sessions)
- Adult literacy, our largest and longest running program, has more than 1,150 participants engaged in learning; from reading books to learning life skills for the workplace, our student needs are met on an individual learning plan.
- English Language Learners affords speakers of other languages the opportunity to improve their English language speaking, reading and writing skills. Tutors currently work with students whose first language is Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Arabic and more. Additionally, Read for Literacy volunteers will also assist these students in preparing for completion of their US Citizenship test.
- Creating Family Readers is Read for Literacy’s newest pilot program, initiated in 2014 with funding from the Toledo Community Foundation, ProMedica and O-I Foundation. We are working in the community to combine our Adult Literacy Program and Creating Young Readers program in a non-classroom setting. Reader friends and tutors work with the family individually and as a unit to increase literacy knowledge.
CLAIRE’S DAY (1-2 hours per month or Day of Event—time and training to be determined)
- Claire’s Day is a signature line of service dedicated to inspiring children and families to be lifelong readers through exposure to a variety of literacy opportunities and experiences. We do this to honor Claire Lynsey Rubini, who passed away from a heart condition in 2000 when she was just ten years old. Our programs and services embrace her favorite activities, including telling stories, dancing, making crafts, and reading.
- Claire’s Day Book Festival
- CARE Awards
- Author & Illustrator School Visits
- Claire’s Night
CREATING YOUNG READERS (3-4 hours of training and orientation—background checks required)
- Creating Young Readers Pre-school program was started in 2006 and allows volunteers the opportunity to work with children ages 3, 4 and 5 who are at risk of falling behind in emergent literacy skills. Above all is sharing the joy of books with children who might not otherwise experience reading with a caring adult.
- Creating Young Readers-Elementary School program provides children in grades K-2nd grade with volunteer “Reader Friends” who work with them one-to-one to increase early literacy skills necessary to experience success in the classroom. Additionally, this program includes book distribution, parent advocacy, and information to engage parents with their children in at home reading time.
LITERACY OUTREACH & VOLUNTEERS (Training provided, in some cases, background check required)
- Literacy Outreach is our opportunity to travel into the community and share our love of reading with others at health fairs, low-income housing developments and others places where children and families gather for recreation and to learn. We distributed more than 10,000 books and family activity sheets in our outreach work and look forward to expanding the program each year.
- General Office Volunteer & Receptionist provides the opportunity to work in our office assisting staff with various special projects, entering data, answering phones.
- Special Event Committee and volunteers on Day of Events make it possible for Read for Literacy to raise funds and provide quality programs. Training is provided for event volunteers.
Mission Statement:
“To provide children, adults and families the opportunity to achieve their academic and personal goals through literacy services. We will serve as an advocate for literacy in our community.”
Contact:
Nikyle Fitzgerald II
Volunteer Coordinator
(419) 242-7323 ext. 12
readfl@toledolibrary.org