Programs and Services
We have a store in Stuart, Florida where we provide clothing and literacy services to children who need assistance. In the past year we recorded more than 5,000 child visits to our store. Items of clothing are given to children at no cost when they come to shop
Our clothing is collected by volunteers weekly from donation bins at various school and then refurbished by volunteers. We have 100 volunteers who work directly with the clothing and the clients and also assist with agency fundraising efforts.
More than 65 schools, churches, and social service agencies were provided with shopping vouchers that were distributed to the families qualified "in need" of clothing. The families present the vouchers and their identification when they come to our store. They are permitted to shop up to 3 times during the year and leave with six items of clothing for each child, three pairs of new socks and underwear and a $15.00 shoe voucher (ages 5 and up) that they can use at WalMart towards the cost of school shoes. At each visit, they are also invited to take home a book and a stuffed animal.
Help with Reading
Our in store literacy program utilizes volunteers to read to the children who visit our store. In addition, they facilitate skills lessons, assist parents with reaching techniques and furnish the materials needed on a child's grade level to help the child read at home. In our "Just the Right Book" program, a volunteer offers each child who comes to the store two books to take home with them. The "Parent Education" components offers videotapes in Spanish to instruct parents on the value of reading and to encourage parents to have children read one they return one. Our "Ready to Read" program helps with reading readiness skills.
The "Reading on Wheels" program was developed in response to a need at two elementary school sites: Port Salerno and J.D. Parker, both located in Stuart. Currently, five elementary schools are participating. Under the leadership of a retired teach, 80 reading tutors were recruited and have each received 6 hours of training in the areas that the schools have requested, including fluency and comprehension. Our volunteer literacy coordinator works closely with the reading specialists and teachers at each school. The 200 students in this program have been identified as working below grade level in reading. The program is one-on-one and takes place during the school day, mainly on a weekly basis, for at least 12 weeks. On average, each tutor works with two children individually in the classroom setting for 40 minutes each session.
Our clothing is collected by volunteers weekly from donation bins at various school and then refurbished by volunteers. We have 100 volunteers who work directly with the clothing and the clients and also assist with agency fundraising efforts.
More than 65 schools, churches, and social service agencies were provided with shopping vouchers that were distributed to the families qualified "in need" of clothing. The families present the vouchers and their identification when they come to our store. They are permitted to shop up to 3 times during the year and leave with six items of clothing for each child, three pairs of new socks and underwear and a $15.00 shoe voucher (ages 5 and up) that they can use at WalMart towards the cost of school shoes. At each visit, they are also invited to take home a book and a stuffed animal.
Help with Reading
Our in store literacy program utilizes volunteers to read to the children who visit our store. In addition, they facilitate skills lessons, assist parents with reaching techniques and furnish the materials needed on a child's grade level to help the child read at home. In our "Just the Right Book" program, a volunteer offers each child who comes to the store two books to take home with them. The "Parent Education" components offers videotapes in Spanish to instruct parents on the value of reading and to encourage parents to have children read one they return one. Our "Ready to Read" program helps with reading readiness skills.
The "Reading on Wheels" program was developed in response to a need at two elementary school sites: Port Salerno and J.D. Parker, both located in Stuart. Currently, five elementary schools are participating. Under the leadership of a retired teach, 80 reading tutors were recruited and have each received 6 hours of training in the areas that the schools have requested, including fluency and comprehension. Our volunteer literacy coordinator works closely with the reading specialists and teachers at each school. The 200 students in this program have been identified as working below grade level in reading. The program is one-on-one and takes place during the school day, mainly on a weekly basis, for at least 12 weeks. On average, each tutor works with two children individually in the classroom setting for 40 minutes each session.