Volunteer
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT LITERACY IN ORANGE COUNTY?
As a volunteer you can make a huge difference in the life of a child. The Early Literacy Program (ELP) always seeks volunteers to:
- Read to children at special events and Reach Out and Read clinics.
- Collect or donate gently used books.
- Rehabilitate books for distribution to children.
- Organize book drives.
Anyone can help us collect new and used books. If you are interested in donating your time or if you have books you would like to donate, please contact us using the information at the bottom of this page.
If you are interesting in reading to children, you should know that this rewarding experience requires a rigorous screening process that will probably take 4-6 weeks from the time you first contact us. We do this to ensure that we provide readers to children who are both healthy and safe. Read on for more information!
The Process
Once you are a Reading Volunteer, you will receive training on best practices designed to help you promote early literacy and language development with children and families. We try to place volunteers within a short driving distance from their work or home and reading schedules are flexible.
The Screening Process includes the following steps:
- Step One: An initial application form. CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT AN ONLINE VERSION.
- Step Two: Complete a Reader Interview.
- Step Three: Complete a TB and fingerprint check. Our Volunteer Coordinator will help schedule these appointments for you at a local screening facility. This step typically takes 2-4 weeks to complete.
- Step Four: Complete a Reader Training
Thank you in advance for your interest in volunteering!
Benefits to volunteering
- Giving back to the community.
- Earn volunteer hours for school.
- Opportunity to build resume.
- Gain valuable experience if interested in the education or medical field.
- Personal fulfillment and reward.
- Meet new people.
Volunteer Readers in Action!
The Early Literacy Program would not be able to meet its mission if it was not for the commitment of dedicated Volunteer Readers serving in our community. Our Volunteer Readers show great enthusiasm reading to children and interacting with families. Their selfless commitment in enriching the lives of children and families do not go unnoticed as you see the smiles left behind on children’s faces as they read to them.
Thank you Volunteers!
Larry Susan Iris
The Clatterbuck family and their story of how they give back to the community!
On May 1, 2010 the Early Literacy Program received a generous donation of over 140 new books from the Clatterbuck family in Huntington Beach, CA. The Clatterbuck's contacted ELP about their plans for their children's 4th and 5th birthday party, where they would have guests bring books to be donated instead of gifts for their children. Mrs. Clatterbuck said, "My kids don't need a hundred presents, they have all they need. We want to teach them the importance of giving back to the community." ELP thanks the Clatterbuck family for their support and generosity!
Hooray for Volunteer Partnerships!
The Circle K International Club-UC Irvine Chapter have come into the ELP office once a week since January, 2010 to clean and prepare donated books for community distribution. Circle K International’s mission is to develop college and university students into a global network of responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to service. Each week students volunteer their time with ELP.Thank you Circle K Club-UC Irvine for you dedication and commitment to ELP.
Giving Back
Emily Lomasney with the help of her mother Michelle of Chino Hills conducted a book drive to collect gently-used children books for ELP during the weeks of November 29th to December 12th in order to earn a Silver Award, the second highest award with the Girl Scouts of America. She partnered with her local smoothie shop, “Tropical Smoothie” of Chino Hills to promote the drive. Emily with her slogan, “Stuff this Suburban with books!” collected 2,428 children books that are going towards children in need. Her volunteerism did not end there. Emily with family and other Scouts refurbished the books December 20th in our office so that children receiving the books would have clean used books. Emily’s passion and dedication in collecting books for our community is a prime example of volunteership and giving back.
Target Team Members Volunteer!
On February 17, 2011 the Early Literacy Program received a generous donation of 473 books from various Target store locations in the Orange County area. Target has always been a strong supporter of ELP with gift cards, book donations, and participation with book doctors. Aside from the generous donation of books on February 17, Target team members volunteered their time to clean 861 books. ELP would like to thank those Target team members who came out and we would especially like to thank Dianna Landucci who helped in organizing this book drive and book doctor event.
Chapman University's Greek Day of Service
Chapman University Students choose to volunteer with the Early Literacy Program on their Greek Day of Service (March 25, 2011). Chapman University has always been supportive of ELP. We have several students and alumni volunteering as Readers in clinics and our book doctors. Thank you!
