Raising Readers In Story County

I have been a volunteer since 2020 with the Read to Succeed Program - a program that is one of the programs under Raising Readers in Story County. RRSC is an amazing resource for parents, schools, and communities as it strives to promote literacy in children and a love for books and reading. I work with Story County elementary schools by providing free books, three times a year, to children involved in the school's Backpack Program. These books are provided to children from Kindergarten up to sixth grade to encourage reading over school breaks, such as Thanksgiving, winter, and spring break. The response is always positive from the students, parents/guardians, and school personnel as the students look forward to receiving and enjoying these beautiful books. It’s not uncommon to hear kids asking my contacts when the “book lady” is coming with this year’s special books chosen for them to keep. I love being a part of this organization and what they stand for and how they support our children.
Read to Succeed Volunteer

Raising Readers is a great organization. Our boys are definitely better readers and talkers because of them! They participate in so many events giving out free books and making our community brighter.

After volunteering with Raising Readers in Story County several times, I am still continuously impressed with the drive this nonprofit has to help children and caregivers with their language and literacy development in the communities around them. Allowing kids to pick what book suits their interests and reading level best at local events is one of the coolest things. I have also thoroughly enjoyed getting to hear first-hand how much improvement occurs when children have access to more books and reading time at home. This organization's mission is important, and they are doing a great job of creating a true impact.

I have been involved with Raising Readers in Story County since its inception as a partner, volunteer, and board member, as well as a grateful community member. The stellar work of RRSC has made such a difference in raising awareness of the importance of child literacy and language development. RRSC programs target parents and caregivers and provides them with resources to help their children thrive. This organization is a vital part of our local communities!

My first volunteering activity after I retired was Raising Readers in Story County’s (RRSC) Reading Buddies program. I did not have a teaching background, but staff and other volunteers helped me, and I was hooked. Working with 4- and 5-year-old kidos drove home the importance of RRSC’s mission. The kidos were excited as they learned to read and when working in pairs helped each other. When I joined the Board a couple of years later, I was introduced to the Little Free Library program. A fellow Board member told me that many young children do not have any children’s books in their home. She wanted to use the Little Free Library program to get books into the hands of children and to expand to all of Story County. With grants, donations, and volunteers we have helped install thirty-five new Little Free Libraries in parks, childcare centers, pre-schools, schools, and other places where children gather and play. Children throughout Story County have greater access to age-appropriate books as RRSC supports the language and literacy development of young children.

I have been a volunteer with Raising Readers in Story County for a couple of years. During this past year, I have also become a volunteer member of their nonprofit board.

I am not a teacher by training. I am someone who values reading. Being retired, I wanted to give back to the community. I had no idea how rewarding it was going to be to help with improving reading of young Iowans. It is quite contagious to see the joy in their eyes when they devour a new book or laugh at a humorous story.

As a new board member, I am impressed with the unified support for the mission, the dedication of staff and volunteers, and the efforts to fill gaps in learning in our community.

I have been a RRSC Board Member for the past eighteen years and am impressed with the impact this non-profit has had on the literacy development of young children in Story County. Several research-based programs have been adopted, adapted, and/or designed to share the joy of reading, build the foundation for future educational success, and encourage engagement of caregivers. Last year 30,000 free books were distributed to community families through signature events and classes, backpacks, Little Free Libraries, and Community Bookshelves. Partner organizations and volunteers serve a vital role to strengthen connections, reflect needs of the community, and expand outreach into the county. Working with other board members, committed staff, and partners who are united through a common purpose and passion sparks an energetic synergy that is motivational and inspirational.

As a retired educator, I am proud to proclaim the underlying message that RRSC exemplifies: teach a child, touch the future. One of my modes of direct involvement with RRSC has been developing and working with programs that reach and address the needs of underserved populations…particularly the most vulnerable, forgotten ones who are difficult to reach and are not experiencing success. In addition to reinforcing reading skills by applying principles of the science of reading, the programs cultivate the excitement of reading, develop a can-do attitude and growth mindset, and create bonds with caring adults who serve as positive role models. One on one undivided attention fosters a supportive environment by perceiving the interests, needs, learning styles, and attitudes on an individual basis. Although it has been several years since I worked with a young boy at the homeless shelter who had built up a resistance to reading, I can still hear his voice at the end of many sessions asking if he could participate again the following year. I had given him books to read to a “Beanie Baby” stuffie and he had developed confidence when reading to it. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he might not be living in the same location for that long. Making a difference for a young child can plant a mustard seed for life and RRSC is certainly doing just that.

In 2004 I was one of 13 board members who saw urgent early childhood literacy needs and founded the nonprofit organization that became Raising Readers in Story County. We've made impressive strides toward our mission of improving language and literacy development in children from birth to eight years of age and nurturing healthy parent-child relationships. For example, one of our main programs is Reach Out and Read, a national model that promotes early literacy and school readiness. The first year we partnered with 6 local pediatricians. We donated 500 books which they gave to 6-month-olds at their checkups. Our program quickly became popular with both families and healthcare professionals. Now Raising Readers annually provides over 9,000 books that are given county-wide to children ages 6-months to 5 years. The doctors encourage parents to read with their children every day, and parents report on our annual surveys they are reading more at home. In 2009 Story County received the first Bookend County Award from the Reach Out and Read National Center for having 100% of primary care physicians participating in the program. Raising Readers has also developed a unique Books and More program featuring a series of parent education offerings. We train volunteers to help share the curricula with families. Participants have praised these classes, saying they gained confidence in their parenting skills, increased their literacy-related activities, and enhanced bonding with their children. Our third major program area involves partnering with human service agencies, faith communities, and other groups who work directly with families at risk. Raising Readers volunteers visit their sites, read to children, and give families books to take home. We are a cost-effective volunteer-driven organization, and we contract for expertise as needed. Typically, a full 90% of our funds go to directly serve families. Individuals, service groups, corporations, foundations, and grantors invest in Raising Readers in Story County in order to be partners in effectively addressing low literacy in our country. On behalf of our dedicated board and volunteers, I can promise anyone who would consider supporting us that we will stretch every penny and use your donations wisely on proven programs.