Volunteers are Read and Feed's lifeblood

Throughout April, we have been highlighting different volunteers on social media. Here they are, in case you missed them.

Nathan is our amazing Wednesday food pickup and dropoff volunteer. He drives 
to and from the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle near NC State, sometimes in terrible traffic, to make sure our kids have a hearty meal. 

Nathan was inspired to start volunteering because he believes "Read and Feed provides confidence and caring for youth who need attention."

Favorite book: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty


Ron is a long time volunteer driver with the patience of a saint, which is a necessary trait when dealing with a sometimes temperamental RV.

Ron got involved with Read and Feed in 2012 when his Rotary Club decided to sponsor a site, and he's been hooked ever since. He currently drives to our Maynard site each week and helps tutor when needed. 

Over the past 6 years, Ron has seen Read and Feed grow and thrive and is happy to continue to volunteer with us.

Benjie has been volunteering with Read and Feed for two years. For 34 years she worked with the Wake County Public Library System and after retiring she dove in to Read and Feed. Benjie has worn many hats- tutor, fill-in Team Lead, event and office volunteer. We love Benjie's enthusiasm!
Benjie's story: Last spring I worked with a 2nd grader. One week I brought a drawstring bag with letter tiles used to play a syllable game. She liked the game, but she loved the bag. She asked if she could have it, and I explained it was a special bag my aunt sewed for me when I was a little girl, and I was reluctant to let it go. I said I could make her a bag, but she told me she liked mine. So we came to an agreement. I would sew a new bag, and she could choose my old bag or the new bag. Each week she asked about the bag, until I finally made one. That week, I gave the new and old bag and asked her to choose. I walked across the room, and when I turned around, she was holding the new bag high up in the air with a big smile on her face. Another child saw the bag and asked for one. So as a surprise, I ended up sewing bags for all 24 kids to give out at our last meeting.

Maggie has been a tutor for Read and Feed for 9 years! This past year she introduced her granddaughter Blake to the program, and the two of them volunteer together.
Maggie mostly tutors the kindergarten and first graders because she taught them in school. 
What Maggie loves about Read and Feed is that the kids get a wonderful meal that they get to share with one another AND that they get to choose books every time they attend.
Maggie says, "It's the most amazing thing in the world when a child learns to read." Click here to see her video interview.