SMART, Start Making A Reader Today has been providing literacy support to children in Central Oregon for 23 years. In Jefferson County they have provided SMART to children at Culver Elementary, Madras Elementary and the Jefferson County Kids Club off and on over the years since 1998. In 2012 they began working with Mid Columbia Children’s Council to provide SMART at the Head Start program in Madras.
In the 2013-14 school year SMART Volunteers read with 18 children in one classroom and it was great a success. The children loved reading with their adult volunteer and they especially loved getting free books to take home and keep and read with their families each month.
Yet, even with that kind of success under our belts we struggle to find volunteers to participate in the program. They currently have two volunteers ready to read in Madras but need two more to get the program going for the last few months of this school year. One person to read with the children and one person to read and to help coordinate the program.
So, who can be a SMART Volunteer? Just about anybody! They require our volunteers to submit an application which triggers a background check and once that background check has been cleared you are ready to read! How much time is involved? One hour a week!
It’s the same hour each week making it easy to incorporate into your schedule. The site coordinator spends a little extra time keeping track of reader hours and counting books for reporting purposes, but generally it requires no more than 2-2.5 hours each week to coordinate the program. The site coordinator is crucial to the success of the program and also has the opportunity to read with the children.
SMART volunteers come from all walks of life, from retired folks with a little extra time on their hands to high school students with their own transportation and anyone in between. In some communities we work with businesses who give their employees time each week to volunteer which has been a great way to get people involved as SMART Readers.
SMART provides training and support to all readers and site coordinators and all you need to do is show up and read as a volunteer reader. You will love how the children come to recognize you and to see their faces light up when they see you come in the door. You will love to see the children become comfortable with their books and sitting with you to read and you will know after each reading session that you have made a difference in a child’s life.
If you or someone you know might be interested in reading for SMART please give us a call at the Bend Office. 541-355-5600 or log onto the website at www.getsmartoregon.org to find out more.
