Now in its second year at the Perry Elementary School, the Everybody Wins! Iowa Power Lunch program seeks additional volunteers willing to give 50 minutes to one-on-one weekly reading with second and fourth graders.
The reading-mentoring program pairs mentors and elementary students with the shared goal of increasing the students’ success in school and life, according to Kathleen Eineke, coordinator of Perry’s Everybody Wins! program.
This year’s program — on Thursdays and Fridays — has a new group of about eight second graders who read weekly with their mentors. Last year’s mentors worked with about a dozen third graders, and many of those reading teams are still together in the fourth grade group.
Ideally, a volunteer reads with the same child over several years and develops a strong bond over books.
“We love our reading mentors,” Eineke said, “and we can always use more volunteers. We have plenty of children who need a little help with reading.”
To make certain the program runs smoothly, a professional staff member supervises the program. Perry Elementary School Community Liaison Megan Maylum is assisting with Perry’s program again this year.
For more information about Everybody Wins! or to volunteer, call Kathy Miner at 515-465-2441.
