Creek County Literacy Program Seeking Volunteers To Read With Elementary Students

A tutoring program in Creek County needs more volunteers to help young students with their reading skills.

Diana Holton is getting ready to serve another school year as a "Caring Grand" volunteer with the Creek County Literacy Program.

Holton works full time, but is able to meet with a student at school for 30 minutes once a week.

"I'll never quit doing it -- I love it!” Holton said.

Volunteers are given a curriculum and get to give their student a book after each session.

"They're excited to get to take their book home and read it with their family. So we help them build their own little personal library that way,” Caring Grands Program Trainer Joanie Mullins said.

The Caring Grands Reading Program places volunteers at Sapulpa, Bristow, Kellyville, Mannford, Mounds, Kiefer and other public schools in Creek County, like Lone Star Public School and the Allen Bowden School District.

Anyone wanting to volunteer needs to go to a training workshop this Thursday Sept. 1, at the Creek County Literacy Program, across the street from the Sapulpa city library.

Caring Grands said right now it has about 25 volunteers committed to this school year, but program leaders said they would love to see that number double.

"We always have a list of kids who need that extra attention, and not enough tutors to give them that,” Freedom Elementary Literacy Interventionist Megan Hurt said.

Hurt has seen the program make a difference over the years, and sees a benefit not just for the students, but for the volunteers too.

"What's so wonderful to see is that they are creating a relationship with that student. And so the student sees them almost like a grandmother or an aunt, or that loving neighbor,” Hurt said.

Holton said since she's done the program for several years, she runs into her students often.

"And they say, literally, 'I can read!' And it's like, that's what they say to me, and that's all I have to hear,” Holton said.

The training workshop on Thursday, Sept. 1 is from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided.