Submitted By: Louise Hawthorne
FORT MYERS, Fla. – United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee is recruiting volunteers for the United Way ReadingPals program to read to four and five-year-olds at nineteen school sites in Lee and Hendry Counties. ReadingPals offers volunteers opportunities to build meaningful relationships with young children while helping them improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills.
The ReadingPals literacy program requires a commitment of only one hour a week during the school year. During this time Pals are matched with pairs of Pre-K or Kindergarten age children who need extra help. Pals build a meaningful relationship by providing the individual attention many kids need to thrive.
Volunteers are needed in all areas of the community. The schools in Lee County are: Bonita Springs Elementary, Hector Cafferata Elementary, Christa McAuliffe Elementary, Cape Child Development Center, Colonial Elementary, The Early Childhood Center, Health Park Child Development Center, J. Colin English Elementary, GLAD Kids, Lee Memorial Child Development Center, New Horizons Afterschool in Estero, Orangewood Elementary, Orange River Elementary, Pinewoods Elementary, Sunshine Elementary, and Villas. In Hendry County ReadingPals volunteer at Krome Child Development, Children’s Garden in LaBelle, and Harlem Academy in Clewiston.
The program is supported by the Children’s Movement of Florida. To learn more, contact Nancy Coker at NancyC@UnitedWayLee.org or 239-433-7544. To sign up, go to www.UnitedWayLee.org/Volunteer/ReadingPals.
ReadingPals is a program of the United Way Volunteer Center. The United Way Volunteer Center connects individuals and companies to volunteer opportunities throughout our community. You can reach the United Way Volunteer Center by calling (239) 433-433-7567, or by visiting the United Way website at www.UnitedWayLee.org.
