Volunteers are an essential part of Literacy Now, and we are so thankful for each one of them. Last year alone, more than 270 volunteers gave 1,275 hours of their time and talent to help empower our kids and their families. Their hours of service allow our staff to focus their time and energy on creating and maintaining effective programming, developing the infrastructure needed to keep our programs going, and building relationships with the schools, parents, and most importantly, the kids.
Anna and Fred Charlton have been volunteering in different capacities since their introduction to Literacy Now in 2011. Together they chaired our annual Magnums Make a Difference gala in 2018, helping us break a fundraising record at that event. Fred is an active board member and serves on the Fundraising Committee, while Anna is an active member of our Guild and is always willing to assist when needed. Most recently, Anna and Fred have taken a leadership role as Co-Chairs of our newest expansion plan campaign, Houston Reads Day.
Sharing their passion for Literacy Now and carrying on the tradition of helping the community, Anna and Fred have gotten their children involved in volunteering. Charlotte, Fiona, and Chip spent an afternoon with Anna assembling literacy kits and stamping books to be distributed to students in our programs.
Charlotte also spent many hours over the summer constructing a Little Free Library for one of our schools, Neff Early Learning Center, while earning her Girl Scout Gold Award.
Thank you, Anna and Fred, for your years of leadership, service, financial gifts, and commitment to Literacy Now and for making volunteering a family affair.
Right now, volunteers are needed more than ever to help support the success of children. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the issue of limited access to multiple things, including laptops or tablets, high-speed internet, high-quality affordable childcare, books at home, excellent health care, all of which create educational inequities. The good news is there is an opportunity to invest in children facing these inequities! We have multiple ways you can make a difference by sharing your time and talents, and we would love to have you join our amazing team of volunteers!
Click here for a complete list of volunteer opportunities. For additional information, please contact Ashley Danna at ashley@literacynowhouston.org
