September 19th, 2010
Read Aloud Delaware, Sussex County, Illiteracy Prevention, Volunteers, Events, Poker at the Beach, Nicola Pizza, Bethany Blues, Delaware Beaches
I have a good friend named Roberta and one of the organizations that is closest to her heart is the Read Aloud Program. I am so happy that she mentioned to me that they are in need of volunteers; that is how they can spread the word and also glad that she mentioned fundraising events that are around the corner.
So, tonight as I am writing this post I cannot help but reminisce on my own childhood. I was so lucky that my grandmother was a teacher and I was read all the time as a young girl. I love reading as an adult and always carry a book with me.
Some children are not as lucky; programs like Read Aloud Delaware is all they have in order to make a difference in their lives.
Read Aloud Delaware’s Executive Director is Mary Hirschbiel, tel. 302-656-5256 ext. 11. E-mail is mhirsch@readalouddelaware.org. The website is www.readalouddelaware.org.
Read Aloud has coordinators in Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
New Castle is Mary Hirschbiel, who is also the Executive Director and you may contact her at the above given telephone number.
Kent County Coordinator is Jennifer Bobel, tel. 302-674-4423, e-mail kent@readalouddelaware.org.
Sussex County Coordinator is Ann Gorrin, tel. 302-856-2527, e-mail sussex@readalouddelaware.org.
I live in Sussex County so therefore, I am concentrating on this county but remember that all Delaware needs help in order to fight illiteracy.
In 1984 Read Aloud Delaware was incorporated as the only statewide organization dedicated to the prevention of illiteracy.
Their mission is to ensure that each preschool child in Delaware is regularly read to one-on-one. And this is when we prospective volunteers come in.
The biggest part of the Read Aloud Delaware program is the volunteer reading program where volunteers go into headstarts, preschools, and day care centers around the State of Delaware and read, just like I mentioned before, one-on-one. Currently there are 34 sites in Delaware.
Over the years I have been asked what can I do if I retire or move to Sussex County? I always say that you can do as much or as little as you desire. This is an opportunity for someone that would like to make a difference in a child’s life.
Want to become a volunteer? Very little effort is required in order to become one; a criminal background check and one orientation session that lasts about an hour. If you are here in Sussex County call the coordinator if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. And, if you are reading this blog somewhere else in Delaware and have an interest, as well, then call the other coordinators. You are needed the most this time of the year. Your commitment is only one hour a week reading at assigned child care centers and clinics throughout the State.
Remember that Read Aloud Delaware is giving kids a reading start. In the past year 988 volunteers read almost 54,000 times to over 7,280 individual children.
This is a nonprofit corporation and funds are always in need.
Please check out the dates for the following fundraising events:
Poker at the Beach – Rt. 1 Lighthouse Shopping Center. They provide Sussex County nonprofit organizations a venue to raise money.
A charity has a designated night in the month where the money taken in is theirs to keep. Poker at the Beach charges a rental fee for the night and allows the group to take whatever else is earned.
The dates are:
September 22, 2010
October 20, 2010
November 17, 2010
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.
Nicola Pizza Fund Raiser – Nicola Pizza is located at 8 North 1st St. Read Aloud will receive a percentage of the cost of the dinner donated.
The date is October 13, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. This is also the first day of the Jazz Festival.
Sing Out Loud for Read Aloud at Bethany Blues, located at Rt. 1 (Ocean Highway) in Lewes. This is a concert featuring local bands, most notably, the Funsters.
The date is October 17, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
I hope the above information gets you interested. Remember all Read Aloud Delaware is trying to do is encourage the love of books; the desire to become a reader to the youngest of our citizens.
Talk to you later….
Tags: Activities, Bethany Beach, Bethany Blues, Delaware Beaches, Dewey Beach, Events, Fenwick Island, fundraising events for Read Aloud, Illiteracy Prevention, Lewes, Milton, Nicola Pizza Fund Raiser, Poker at the Beach, Read Aloud Delaware, rehoboth beach, Sussex County, Things to do at the beach, Volunteers, Volunteers for Read Aloud, What to do at the beaches
This is awesome!! Thanks so much, Roberta
Nothing beats a good book. I hope volunteers hear the call.
Thank you for passing along the message that there are many children waiting for enthusiastic readers to share the joy of reading with them!
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