Volunteers came together for an impactful happy hour to fight for early literacy.  

Children from economically disadvantaged families can be up to two years behind in language progress before they enter school. According to the Department of Education, half of Linn County low-income five-year-olds are not ready for kindergarten.*

UWECI Campaign Chairs, Darrel, Andrew, and Paul Morf, stopped by to help YLS members and volunteers sticker books for RED Ahead families.

That’s where RED Ahead comes in.

RED Ahead (Read Every Day to get Ahead) provides parents with information and activities that are helpful in developing language skills, so their children are ready for kindergarten. Last week, Volunteers on Tap—a Young Leaders Society (YLS) event—was an opportunity for members of the community to come together, socialize, and provide resources for RED Ahead families.

A group of almost 20 energetic volunteers enjoyed good conversation, food, and drinks while creating New Family Welcome Kits and stickering books for families who join the RED Ahead program. The welcome kits include resources, books, and materials that empower parents to help their kids develop early literacy skills.

In just over an hour, the group completed 200 welcome packets and stickered a total of 750 books! This would have taken RED Ahead staff two days to accomplish. Instead, they are now able to focus on giving 50-60 kids the attention and services they need.

To learn more about our partner programs like RED Ahead, check out our impact page.

If you’re interested in getting involved with events like Volunteers on Tap, take some time to explore other volunteer opportunities today.

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*2009 Department of Education study