In between the swimming, sports, and hanging out with friends, there is still time for teens to lend a hand and volunteer for community service this summer. The Bridgeville Public Library is starting a new program in cooperation with the Washington Commons Personal Care Facility across the street where teens volunteer to read to the elderly residents there.
Teens will be matched with a group of two or three seniors and read to them during the evenings and weekends this summer. Washington Commons residents who were interested completed a survey to indicate what material they like. The material can be short stories, current events or chapters from a novel. David Yake, the youth services librarian, will help locate reading material appropriate for this program.
The program will also teach teens to be independent as they won’t always be supervised.
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“The environment is safe here,” said Stacey Zurman, activities director at Washington Commons. “We have chosen residents with good behavior and interest in the program.”
There’s about 10 teen participants in the program and they are starting the orientation process right now. The library hopes to kick off the program next week and establish a regular reading schedule in the evenings and on weekends.
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“The residents' faces lit up as we toured the facility and they are looking forward to working with our teens,” Yake said. “Both sides will get something out of this.”
The program runs from now until July 30, but the relationship can be continued if desired. Teen volunteer hours will be tracked in the computer and they will get credit for community service hours. In addition, if they hand in their reading log, they will be eligible for prizes each week through the summer reading program.
If teens prefer working with children, the library is also looking for volunteers to assist at the desk of the Summer Reading Club.
“We really need a volunteer there every hour we are open to register children and help them complete the reading logs,” said Donna Murphy, the library's director.
The Summer Reading Program runs through July 30 as well and the Library’s summer hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those who are interested should contact the library at 412-221-3737. Adults are also welcome to volunteer at the Reading Program Desk and all shifts are needed at this time.
