The READ Association of Saginaw County has been around for more than 70 years. They started as an organization focused on helping children across Saginaw County improve their reading skills. In the last few years, they have really expanded their mission and asked, “What else can we be doing?”
Today, they have mentorship programs where children meet with their mentors one-on-one and in groups to have lunch and discuss life skills, like how to tie a tie. They also have a nursing home program, where kids are transported to local nursing homes to read to the residents. There is a family literacy program where teachers help parents learn how to work with their children and improve their reading. Also, during COVID, the organization hosted book drives and dropped thousands of books off to kids who didn’t have access to libraries during the lockdown.
As a board member, finance committee chair, and an active volunteer with READ since 2008, it has been great to see how the organization has grown and adapted to the changing needs in our community. Saginaw County has truly embraced our organization and the work we do. We receive support and have partnered with many nonprofits in the area to make our programs possible. Seeing the Saginaw community come together to support our youth is inspiring, and I am proud to be a part of it.
I give back because I want to help improve literacy in Saginaw County.