R.E.A.C.H.
READING ENSURES ALL CHILDREN HAPPINESS

R.E.A.C.H. is an after-school literacy program that began at First English Lutheran Church in the fall of 2000. It was an outreach program thought of by several members wanting to expand into the community. First English has partnered with Fairview Elementary School to help children who are in need of improving their literacy skills or who just enjoy reading and wanted to be involved in the after-school activity. The program uses 2 coordinators and several volunteers from the church congregation who meet with the children 2 days a week for one hour after school. The children read, discuss, and review books selected by the school's principal and a teacher liaison that works with the coordinators of the program on an ongoing basis.

When the program began in the fall of 2001 there were 31 children participating in the program with 9 tutor/volunteers and grew in the second semester to 47 children with the addition of 1 more volunteer. The children and volunteers alike grew in abilities and confidence as the year progressed with many children advancing in their reading levels.

The program did more than just help children in their reading by allowing relationships to form between tutors and students. There were end of the semester celebrations with a "shopping spree" party at the end of the first semester where children spent "R.E.A.C.H. bucks" earned in the class time to a full-fledged auction of games, crafts and educational toys at the end of the second semester. Children and volunteers all left the parties with smiles and a feeling of accomplishment.