For four years Tom has been a volunteer reader in the Pediatrics Department at McFarland Clinic in Ames. He sits in the Reading Corner provided by Ames Morning Rotary and Raising Readers and reads with children who come for their well-child checkups.
Tom volunteers with Raising Readers because he enjoys children and it's fun to share books with them. He says the time flies by when there are children in the waiting room who like reading and are interested in the stories. In Tom's experience, a book that boys and girls always enjoy is "My Truck Is Stuck!"
Tom's career has been working as a pharmacist. He attributes his own love of reading to being read to a lot by his mother and father.
In the Raising Readers Gift Books program, Judy helps children in families living with low-income choose special books to take home and enjoy. She has trained to be a volunteer facilitator with the Books and More family education programs. She serves on the Raising Readers Board of Directors. Recently, Judy accepted the volunteer role as Volunteer Coordinator for Raising Readers.
Judy was drawn to the mission of Raising Readers. "The many facets of Raising Readers serve a variety of needs and interests for the residents of Story County. Our communities are blessed to have high rates of volunteerism. As Raising Readers Volunteer Coordinator, it's my goal to help potential volunteers identify the right fit for their gifts of time."
Judy was a kindergarten teacher for 34 years. Judy says, "As an educator, I've always been passionate about nurturing children and helping their parents to provide a literature rich environment. I find it very rewarding when former students tell me that they have passed on a love of reading to their children."
