Halfway through the school year may not feel like the moment to start something new, but for BeAR, it is one of the most critical times to step in.
The Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project needs additional mentors for Willard Model Elementary (Norfolk) and College Park Elementary (Virginia Beach). No matter where one lives in Hampton Roads, chances are it is within a quick drive of one of these schools, and within reach of making a real difference.
As with any long-standing volunteer program, life circumstances arise. Over the course of the year, some mentors occasionally must step aside due to health challenges, family responsibilities, changes in work, and other unforeseen factors. These moments are understood and respected. What remains constant, however, are the second graders who continue to show up each week, ready to read, talk, and connect with a caring adult.
At this point in the school year, the commitment is both minimal and necessary. Mentors spend just one hour a week reading one-on-one with the same child. There are no lesson plans, no teaching background required, just consistency, conversation, and encouragement.
That single hour can change how a child sees reading and themselves.
Those who thought they “missed the window” to volunteer, but are interested, now is the time. The window is open! Midyear mentors are essential, deeply appreciated, and immediately impactful.
The need is real. The time commitment is manageable. And the difference that mentors make will last far beyond this school year.
For more information, contact Robin Ford at 757-321-2304 or rford@ujft.org.