Discover how volunteers are making a significant impact at the Oregon City Head Start program. In this video, we hear from Nicole Vera-Vera Couzens, Education Manager at Oregon City Head Start, and Chris Otis, Executive Director of S.M.A.R.T. (Start Making A Reader Today), along with Jeff Martin, President & Founder of Children's Literacy Project, and teachers Anni Chatterton and Sarah Fenstmacher.
They share inspiring stories about the importance of reading and how community volunteers help foster a love of learning in preschool children.Head Start is dedicated to providing essential preschool education to vulnerable children, including those from low-income families, foster care, or with special needs. The program runs four days a week, for three and a half hours each day, preparing these young minds for future academic success. However, the support from volunteers like those from S.M.A.R.T. is crucial in making this mission possible.
Hear firsthand experiences of the volunteers and understand how their commitment to reading with children not only benefits the kids but also brings immense joy and fulfillment to the volunteers themselves. Learn how simple acts of kindness, like spending half an hour reading with a child, can make a world of difference.