How often do I need to volunteer?

Readers are asked to volunteer at least twice a month. One may volunteer just for an event like Cat in the Hat which is always held in March. Then there are ongoing opportunities to volunteer for things like book sorting or office help.

What does Ready 4 Reading require for the safety of children?

R4R requires a SLED check or criminal background check from the State Law Enforcement Department, a negative TB test, and references. We also remind all volunteers to maintain standard health and safety practices such as hand washing and ask that anyone with a fever, cough, or runny nose to please stay at home. Part of the reader training is about how to work with young children in an appropriate manner.

Is there a location near where I live to read?

There are nine sites within Greenville and Greenville County, so there should be a place near you. Click here for a list of sites and locations.

Why do you train the readers?

We train readers because we want all of our readers to model best practice in reading to children for the benefit of the children, caregivers, and parents. In addition, reading to a group is different than reading to your child or grandchild as the dynamics of the group size and make-up are different. Also, we want to make sure that all of our volunteers are reading in the same way by asking questions of the children, talking about books and parts of books, and by engaging the children in a dialog around what is being read.

I want to volunteer in a capacity other than reading, can I still help?

YES, we need people to sort through our book donations to make sure that all copies are good for giving away. We also need workers in our office to do filing, data processing, and to help with mailings. We also need volunteers to go into centers with Raising A Reader and help teachers check in the red bookbags to make sure that all the books have been returned.

May I bring my own books to read?

You may bring your own books and we encourage readers to read what they like so that they will bring their enthusiasm with them. We also provide a monthly curriculum and books for each site, so you can use this if you don’t have access to children’s books. Each site also has a supply of books that have been used in the past by readers.