How To Volunteer
There are many ways to volunteer with York County Reads! You can become a tutor, board member or help with preparing materials and events. If you're looking for something behind the scenes, we also have opportunities to help with website upkeep and newsletters. Below you'll find details on each volunteer position. Once you know how you'd like to get involved, fill out the contact sheet and we'll reach out to you!
Literacy Tutors:
To become a literacy tutor volunteers must attend an 18-hour training class after passing a background check. All materials for tutoring will be provided at no cost. After training, the tutor will be paired with one student in Fort Mill or Rock Hill. They must meet with their students two days per week for 45-60 minutes per meeting. Pre-lesson preparation takes about 30 minutes. All volunteer tutors will have access to a mentor. Most of our tutoring takes place after school hours.
Tutor Mentor:
Mentors must demonstrate a heart for mentoring and a teaching background is preferred, but not required. Must attend an 18-hour training class after passing a background check. Mentors oversee and encourage new and established tutors as they are working with their students. Time commitment is 1-2 hours per week. Most of our tutoring takes place after school hours.
Board member:
The role of the board is to advise, oversee, and promote York County Reads, as well as
to support the organization’s mission and needs. We seek board members who are kind and respectful and enthusiastic about the importance of literacy and the science of reading. They must have a passion to help York County Reads serve families in need throughout York County. They must be willing to actively participate in fundraising events, become knowledgeable about the organization’s values, mission, programs, and performance. The board meets monthly for an hour (usually virtually). This is a two-year term commitment.
Assemble materials for training classes:
Periodically we need volunteers to help assemble materials for training classes. The time commitment is 2-4 hours. Currently we host training classes quarterly.
Attend awareness events:
York County Reads attends many community events to spread awareness of our organization and mission. Volunteers are always needed to man booths at such events. The time commitment varies. Volunteers must be enthusiastic about the importance of literacy and the science of reading, and become knowledgeable about the organization’s values, mission, programs.
Grant Writing
Much of our programming is sustained through grant funding, making it a vital resource for our organization. We are actively seeking an individual with proven experience in grant writing to aid us in expanding our mission-driven initiatives. The time commitment for this role is flexible and contingent upon project requirements, accommodating various schedules and availability.
Database Creation:
York County Reads needs a volunteer with the skills to create databases for student progress monitoring.
Newsletter Production:
We currently do not have a newsletter but would like to have one created monthly or quarterly. You must be able to demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills and the ability to collaborate with others.