On March 19th I volunteered my time to Goodwill's BookWorks Program. I am not sure who was having more fun...me...or the kids! For those of you not familiar with BookWorks you are not alone. It was new to me as well. I was introduced to this volunteer program through Leadership Tampa.
Goodwill's BookWorks program brings together volunteer readers and children from low-income households to promote childhood literacy. Volunteers read to preschool children at Head Start centers and other locations and then present each child with a book of their own to take home. This Goodwill Industries-Suncoast program reaches children in six counties in West Central Florida: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Polk and Marion.
BookWorks is designed to instill a love of books and reading and to encourage self-sufficiency. As a provider of welfare transition services in West Central Florida, Goodwill-Suncoast has seen first-hand the effects that illiteracy has on adults. The ultimate goal of BookWorks is to break the cycle of illiteracy to help children succeed in tomorrow's workforce. Because early childhood literacy is linked to later employability, BookWorks supports Goodwill-Suncoast's mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work.
As a product of Head Start, I cannot say enough good things about my whole experience. I want to start by saying what amazing people exist in this world. Those that teach teach little kids have my respect. The teacher in the classroom I read in was able to positively guide 20 kids, in unison, to behave and be respectful. Little minds at this age are like little sponges soaking up everything they can while craving love and interaction.
It was adorable and inspirational to watch these little minds explore the world through books. In these moments, we are all equal. No one cared that one little girls pants where so small they would not zip or button. No one cared that there where at least 4 ethnicities in the room. No one cared that a little boys favorite animal from the book was a butterfly. All they saw was excitement and wonder through their imaginations.
As I look back on my childhood I can remember spotty moments. I don't remember my kindergarten teacher. I don't remember my 1st grade teacher. I do however remember Ms. Rose, my Head Start teacher. I loved her so much. I remember being in my teenage years and running into her and her remembering ME!!!
I pride Ms Rose, My Grandmother and my Parents for my giving me this head start in life...pun intended. When I went into kindergarten I could already read, write in cursive and add single digits. I remember having so much fun! I hope that this generation will be able to remember and look back on this opportunity in life and find that it did give them the same head start in life that it afforded me.
I challenge you all to spend a day getting back to the innocence of life by signing up to read for just one day. I promise you will be tired. I promise you will have fun. I promise that you will smile. I promise for the short time you are there you will forget all about the bad news on TV, won't even think about work and couldn't care less about checking your Facebook. I promise you will feel hopeful.
Ready? Convinced? Intrigued?
Here's your chance. It's one click away.
http://www.goodwill-suncoast.org/volunteer-application
Please try it just once. I would love to hear all about your experience!