YMCA Reads!

Volunteering for YMCA Reads

Helping others kindles happiness. Our YMCA Reads mentors consistently tell our site coordinators about their enjoying the time they spend with the children and of feeling a sense of fulfillment. Several mentors noted how they experienced a deeper connection to the students and the community – read their stories here along with parents stories.

YMCA Reads is entirely implemented by local, community volunteers who work closely with our students. Many of our volunteers are former educators or business executives who may be looking for an opportunity to connect to their community. All volunteers are required to submit to a background check and fingerprinting to protect our students.

We recognize our volunteers are donating their valuable time, and we feel it’s important they enjoy and benefit from volunteering, too. To that end, we encourage all of our volunteers to:

• Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. If you have any questions, ask.  Sample questions to your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

• Know what’s expected. Before starting, make sure you are comfortable with the organization, know what is expected, and understand the time commitment.

• Enjoy yourself. Most importantly, make sure you’re having fun! The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and familiar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

To Volunteer for YMCA Reads, please contact one of the site coordinators in your area.