| Help wanted! - written by Kevin Doran |
|
5/25/2005 6:00 PM |
(Geri Spino read to a student at School 22) Video: |
Have you got a half an hour over your lunch break to make a difference in a child's life? Help wanted in our Experience Today report.
Want to change a kid's life? Read to them, especially kids at Rochester's School Number 22 where students face more challenges than most.
"The illiteracy rate in the neighborhood surrounding the schools is very high," says Karen Guidarelli.
Karen Guidarelli's group Buddies, Bridges and Brains and the Scott Spino Foundation have teamed up on the Scott Spino Literacy program. Scott was the reading teacher at School 22 until he was killed by a drunk driver last October.
What they're looking for are 100 volunteers to come to School #22 once a month and read to second graders. And if time is an issue you can read as a team with a friend.
It's a half-hour commitment over your lunch hour and you'd need to take one, short orientation class taught by teachers in the Victor School District helping with this Urban-Suburban Education project. And not to sound greedy, but they say a sponsor to help buy a book for every second grader each month would be a blessing.
Scott's Mom Geri is one of the volunteer readers. She's doing it to honor her son and because she knows it makes a difference."Just to see the smiles on their face as you read to them, the interaction, they engage with you, they welcome with open arms anyone who wants to spend time with them to help them learn," says Geri.
It would be a wonderful gift to a child and it comes with a guarantee."We can guarantee anyone who volunteers will not be sorry, we will not waste their time," says Karen.
Kevin Doran and his wife Teresa are going to be volunteer readers at School Number 22. They'd be grateful if you join them.
For information call 585-329-4172. |
|