“Built to Read” – Park Cleanup & Book Drive
How can we turn a one-day service project into a lasting contribution toward the community’s children? My thought was to accomplish two things at once: set-up a day where volunteers can clean-up a local park, where children play frequently, but also collect children’s books that will in turn be given to the nearby elementary school for students and teachers to use in class to practice reading.
The Manatee County Parks & Recreation Department has enabled us to do such a project.
As you may know, I am an AmeriCorps member in service to Manatee County Habitat for Humanity. One of my duties as an AmeriCorps member is to organize a service opportunity that addresses a specific need of the surrounding community, beyond our usual scope.
Across the street from Hope Landing is an elementary school. Also, most of our homeowners have children of their own. So naturally, I explored the needs of the children in the community.
Manatee County is home to many talented and devoted teachers as well as thousands of brilliant students. However, in 2008, the average percentage of elementary students meeting “high standards” of reading was only 74% and the average percentage of students on free and reduced lunch was 55% (www.manateeschools.net). In spite of having outstanding students and teachers, the availability of classroom resources can have a great impact on a child’s educational experience.
Aside from school libraries and curriculum reading material, all in-class reading material must be purchased out-of-pocket by teachers themselves. With 55% of students in the free and reduced lunch program, it is possible that many of them may not have access to reading resources at home. Success in reading education depends heavily on having a choice of reading materials available for students beyond what is mandated by curriculum.
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Admission: When: Where: What: |
Fill out the form below to join us. If you are unable to come to help clean-up, but would still like to donate children’s books, we would still greatly appreciate it! If you have any questions, contact me at volunteer@manateehabitat.org or (941) 748-9100 ext. 104
Thank you for all you do!
Joey Caltabellotta
Volunteer Coordinator (AmeriCorps)
Manatee Co. Habitat for Humanity