Volunteer to improve literacy

Recent articles, editorials and letters to the editor have highlighted, again, the growing need for literacy to be a top priority in the Lowcountry — especially in impoverished neighborhoods on the peninsula and in the North Charleston area. The school district is working diligently to improve these statistics, but each year it is further constrained by budget issues.

We need members of the community to volunteer in the most needy areas where resources aren’t available.

Every day volunteers come into schools in Charleston County and offer their time and talent, but are there measures to show that their time is making a difference? It is time to ask, “Is my time being used in the most strategic way possible?”

The Reading Partners/Charleston Book Buddies program of Charleston Volunteers for Literacy is a non-profit that works with the school district to identify the most needy schools in Charleston County, and then with teachers, administrators and faculty to identify students who will benefit most from our program.

We use community volunteers to improve literacy in Title I schools.

Our students are seen twice a week by a community volunteer or two who provide structured, one-on-one tutoring that is research-based and has measurable results.

We individually monitor our students for progress throughout the year.

We also send each student home with a book to keep. This starts to build a culture of literacy at home.

Our volunteers come from all ages and range from high school students to retired superintendents.

We have provided services to some of the most needy Charleston County students since 2008, with measurable results every year.

This year, the Reading Partners/Charleston Book Buddies program has teamed up with Trident United Way and Mayor Riley’s Office for Children, Youth and Families in order to provide over 300 students in high-poverty schools one-on-one literacy tutoring.

We need over 600 volunteers to implement our program, and with help from local high schools, groups like Foster Grandparents and dedicated business, church and civic groups that recognize the need to be strategic volunteers, we will begin to move the needle on the literacy crisis in Charleston.

For additional information about the Reading Partners/Charleston Book Buddies program please visit the website www.charlestonliteracy.org or email info@charlestonliteracy.org or call 508-561-3537.

Kecia Greenho

Executive Director

Reading Partners/Charleston Book Buddies

Park Crossing Drive

Charleston