Juli Metzger, United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties—
Muncie, IN—For many years, United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties has coordinated volunteer reading programs in local schools. When COVID-19 restrictions kept school buildings closed to the public, United Way had to find another way to serve the community’s students this year.
If necessity is the mother of invention, then Muncie Reads is an entrepreneurial dream. The virtual program pairs volunteers with participating elementary schools. Volunteers act as an additional reading role model to help foster a love of reading in each student.
It has enabled people like Jan and Bill McCune to stay connected to South View Elementary School, in spite of COVID-19, and has given them a sense of fulfillment as they help kindergarten teacher Erin Eads.
“We love Mrs. Eads. I volunteered in her classroom when she was just a first-year teacher and we really formed a bond,” said Jan. After teaching for a year at another school district, Eads returned to South View for this school year. “When she came back, I definitely wanted to work in her classroom again. Then COVID happened and we couldn’t go into the buildings. When United Way contacted us about Muncie Reads, we were excited to have a way to volunteer.”
Each month, the volunteers record themselves reading a book, write a letter to the classroom, and offer up a reading challenge for the students. The McCunes built their October challenge around “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Jan, a retired art teacher, and husband, Bill, a retired Ball State University administrator, helped recruit volunteers from First Presbyterian Church, where they have been long-time members.
“Bill read ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’” Jan said. “The challenge was to go outside and find wild things like butterflies or squirrels and have an adult write them down or draw pictures.” Jan says the key to success is simply getting more help into the schools. “First Presbyterian took a survey and found that teachers wanted boots on the ground support. In general, you just need people,” she said. “Our work at South View is about making relationships with teachers and students. We give them time that perhaps their parents – who may work two jobs – might not have. It’s justice with a small ‘j.’”
Muncie Reads is a unique program, created and coordinated by United Way staff. It is through reading and early childhood education that United Way is addressing generational poverty. United Way is working toward ensuring all children are reading proficiently by the time they complete third grade, which is the single greatest indicator of a child’s success in school and life. In fact, campaign contributions are strategically invested in local programs to help put children on a pathway out of poverty through better educational outcomes.
There are upwards of 20 Muncie Reads volunteers in preschool through fifth grade classrooms at South View Elementary School.
“The COVID-19 pandemic makes volunteering very different this year, but not impossible,” Eads notes.
“This program has allowed my students to continue to build strong relationships with great community role models like Miss Jan and Mr. Bill,” Eads said. “Even though this year looks very different, I am so thankful that volunteers are still a part of our classroom family through the Muncie Reads program.”
United Way launched the Muncie Reads program at Grissom and South View Elementary Schools during the fall and will expand the program to serve Longfellow Elementary beginning in January.
About United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties
United Way of Delaware and Henry Counties focusing resources on education, health, and financial stability. The nonprofit fights to create lasting change in community conditions. With its bold goal to reach grade-level reading by 2024, United Way works to help children read at or above grade level by the end of their third-grade year. Learn more at invitedtoliveunited.org.
