Bookmates

A scary thought that some states figure on how much to expand their prison based on the literacy levels of children in elementary school. Bookmates is a program out of The Jewish Community Center of South Jersey. Its mission is to empower at risk children to master the lifelong skill of reading, to provide them with a foundation to succeed in school and in life.

    Bookmates started after President Clinton called for action for literacy. Since that time, the program is in over 29 schools and the volunteers have read to over 500 children.

I have a special interest in the literacy program plaguing the country, so I decided I  wanted to become a volunteer. Last Wednesday, October the 14th, I drove up to the Jewish Community Center and attended a mandatory meeting for anyone considering volunteering. I was by far the youngest in the room by 30 years. It seems many of the other volunteers were retired school teachers. Regardless everyone was nice, and welcoming. I’m very excited to get started on the program. Hopefully, I will be assigned to Forest Hills elementary in Camden City where I will be reading to two children a week for an hour. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please email Rhonda Sharon at bookmates@jfedsnj.org

Sadly my camera decided to die as soon as I got there. Enjoy the cell phone photos I snapped:

Front of the Jewish Community Center

After the training was finished.