Reading Allies In Need Of 100 More Volunteers

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Reading Allies is looking for 100 more volunteers to begin Feb. 5 in their effort to help young readers at several schools in the city of Tuscaloosa and across the county this school year.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Reading Allies will serve 350 students across 14 elementary schools this semester, with programs operating twice per week. In total, 700 volunteer spots need to be filled overall.

The schools operating Reading Allies programs are: Arcadia Elementary, Central Elementary, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Oakdale Elementary, Skyland Elementary, Southview Elementary, Cottondale Elementary, Crestmont Elementary, Flatwoods Elementary, The Alberta School of Performing Arts, University Place Elementary, Vance Elementary, Holt Elementary, and Matthews Elementary.

Reading Allies says programs will begin the week of Feb. 5 and run through the week of April 22 with a week off during Spring Break. Substitute volunteers are available in the event a regularly scheduled volunteer is sick, out of town, or has a work commitment.

Working with those in 1st through 3rd grade, the initiative pairs community volunteers one-on-one with readers to bring them up to grade level.

Sessions — offered Mondays through Thursdays — last approximately 30 minutes and volunteers are asked to commit for the semester, with substitute volunteers available if needed.

Reading Allies says volunteers must be at least 16 years old and adhere to the background check requirements of the local school district.

Reading Allies first started in 2017 as a collaborative effort between the University of Alabama Honors College, the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club, and the Tuscaloosa City Schools. It has since expanded to include county schools.

Click here to sign up to be a volunteer!

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com