We combat illiteracy in Bergen County by training Reading Buddies

to work one-on-one with students in grades K-4.

 

Reading Buddies serve as tutors, advocates, friends, and mentors, meeting individually with students each week. Buddies help elementary public school students enjoy and improve their reading skills in a comfortable and friendly environment.

 
Volunteers for this program must be 18 and older. Volunteers work with students at their scheduled time during the school day, Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 2:30PM.

 

Are you interested in reading with students? Before you sign up, please consider the following:

• The program runs from October through June (coinciding with the school year).

• Participating elementary schools are in Teaneck and Hackensack.

• You would be assigned one school and 2 or 3 students that you meet with each week on the same day, at the same time. The students are the same each week.

• The weekly commitment is one hour.

• All volunteers MUST complete a criminal background check and fingerprinting (done in Garfield). The schools will reimburse the volunteers. Details to follow - do not get fingerprinted now.

• If you do significant traveling from October through June, then this is not the right volunteer opportunity for you.

• All volunteers must complete one in-person training session at our office in Hackensack.

 

Bergen READS is ready for the 2024-2025 school year! Thank you to our returning and new volunteers for your commitment to building literacy skills and confidence in young learners.

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Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop about Bergen READS volunteer opportunities. 

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For more information, contact Lisa Tredici

201.489.9454 - ext. 208 ltredici@bergenvolunteers.org