If you can read this, here’s your chance to say thanks, and pass it on.
Read and Feed, the Cary-based nonprofit with three mobile classrooms and a mission to build literacy, is celebrating 10 years of helping Wake County children learn to read, with an anniversary celebration set for Friday, Nov. 3.
You can help: Volunteers are needed before and during the event, from managing its live and silent auctions to artistic efforts like building and painting a giant caterpillar to fit the festive theme.
And don’t forget to buy a ticket: The anniversary party also includes gourmet catering, a DJ, wine and beer, and live performers.
The why
Read and Feed delivers tutoring services and hot meals to elementary-aged students who may not have them otherwise.
“We work with at-risk, low-income children who are identified through our partner schools,” explained Kati Mullan, Read and Feed’s executive director. Most are at least one grade level behind in their reading.
Mullan says developing reading proficiency by third grade is vital for academic success and on-time graduation.
“We want to reinforce what they’re learning in school, but not be an extension of school,” she said. “We try to focus on reading comprehension as well. Sometimes a child will be able to read beautifully but have no idea what it means.”
The curriculum at Read and Feed is specifically designed with the help of students’ teachers; tutors use teachers’ comments to focus on areas that need extra attention.
Students are also provided with three books a week to take home in order to build personal libraries. The children choose those books, which Mullan says makes them more likely to read on their own.
Want to be a part of this good work? The 10th anniversary celebration will take place on Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m., at The Merrimon-Wynne House in Raleigh. Find out more at readandfeed.org.
BONUS: Read Cary Magazine’s feature on Read and Feed here.
