Led by trained volunteers, Read-Alouds help kids in shelters, transitional housing and affordable housing sites discover the magic of books and reading.  The new kids’ books they receive in the program may be the only books they own.

Teams of volunteers plan and conduct monthly, hour-long read-aloud sessions at 12 sites in Washington and northern Virginia.

Volunteers make a one-year commitment to the Read-Aloud program.  New volunteers attend an orientation and a check-in session within the first six months.  After that, volunteers attend two training sessions each year, as well meet with other volunteers at their site.

The Read-Aloud program provides reading role models and exposure to books, activities and conversation for 370 kids at 12 sites, improving their chances for reading success in school. 

Once volunteers have enrolled, completed a background check and been trained, they go out to the sites to join already existing teams.  The team members plan their Read-Alouds together -- choosing a theme, several related books, an activity and sometimes a snack -- and work as a team to ensure that the hour-long Read-Alouds go smoothly.  At the end of each session, the volunteers help kids select a new book to keep.

If you want to make a difference in a child’s life through reading, fill out the Read-Aloud Volunteer application today.  You’ll be contacted by TRC staff with information about the next scheduled orientation session and placement information.  Contact Stephanie Berman at sberman@thereadingconnection.org with questions.