Making a Difference for Young Children
They are as diverse as the books they read and the children they serve. They are retired educators, doctors, and attorneys. They are high school students, college students, and professors. They are business owners, bosses, and employees; grandparents, moms, dads, aunts, and uncles. And they all have one thing in common. MWFB volunteers love children and know the difference a love of books makes. Giving generously of their time and expertise, volunteers help ensure all children in southern Arizona have the opportunity to fall in love with books.
Volunteer Opportunities
Storytime |
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No matter how busy they are, Storytime volunteers find time for their “kids.” Every week, volunteers spend about a half hour at Tucson childcare centers reading to the children. Some volunteers use props, like puppets and costumes; some sing and play games, too. The MWFB Library has everything volunteers need to make Storytime a wondrous event, and that’s just what this very special group of a few dozen volunteers does for hundreds of Tucson children. But there are many more childcare centers and preschools that need us! If you would like to read to young children once a week, or more, please sign up or give us a call at (520) 721-2334.
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"When children are read to, they become excited about reading and are likely to become better readers later."
–Dee Ann Sakrison
"I never had read to 3-year-olds before, but I've figured out what works for them, and it's been so much fun. Reading has never been a chore; it's such a joy. And even more so because the children are so delighted that someone is coming to read to them and get to know them."
–Pat Mackey
"Children need models for positive self-esteem, like the little piggy in 'I Like Me' who looks in the mirror every morning and exclaims, 'Hi, good looking!' "
–Maureen Bike
"If I can add something to their life and make them interested in an area of life they don't know anything about, anything can happen. One could grow up to be an astronaut, but if they don't know what an astronaut is, they won't become one."
–Sheila Wolf
"Storytime should be fun for children. That's what keeps kids interested in reading and in the world around them. Besides, where else can you sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider," talk like a wide-mouth frog, and go "a huntin' " for bugs, all within the confines of normal?"
–Arthur Goldberg
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Top 10 Reasons to Be a Storytime Volunteer
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You have songs like, "If You're Happy and You Know It" stuck in your head all day. |
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Sitting in a little chair makes you feel like you have a little bottom. |
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Listening to preschoolers gives a whole new meaning to "Too Much Information." |
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You get to dress up even if it isn't Halloween. |
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You've found that your favorite part of the bookstore is the children's section. |
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Kids don't care if you're having a bad hair day. |
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You get to fill up your car with gas more often. |
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Who needs a paycheck? |
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How else could you pick up so many little germs in so little time? |
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You get so many hugs, you keep coming back for more! |
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Pat Mackey, retired teacher/librarian, has a few attention-getters in her bag of tricks. If this veteran Storytime volunteer loses the kids’ attention, she just pulls out “dessert” ‑ a treat from her lifelong collection of pop-up books!
Learn More >>
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Blue Book Houses |
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Blue Books Houses, located in social service and healthcare settings throughout Pima County, hold gently used books for families to read to their children while they wait then take home to keep. It takes lots of books to keep them full! MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS needs student organizations, church groups, and local businesses to conduct book drives to keep the book shelves stocked. Remember, many of these children have no books of their own. Please help us put our book drives into overdrive and put books into the hands of children who have none. From time to time, MWFB also recruits volunteers to deliver books to the Blue Book Houses. If you are interested in conducting a book drive or helping keep the Blue Book Houses stocked, please give us a call at (520) 721-2334, or sign up online today!
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Special Events |
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There is something for everyone when it comes to volunteering for MWFB events. MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS organizes and participates in a number of early literacy events every year. Event volunteers read to children, hand out books, don character costumes, make props, perform stories, conduct workshops, serve refreshments, and much more. Among the events scheduled this year are the following:
- Story Town
- Tucson Festival of Books
- Family Literacy Nights
- Laps for Literacy
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Office Projects |
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Many times, MWFB needs help covering books, doing library inventory, making signs, preparing mailings, filling literacy bags, and much more. Student groups from the university and local schools, civic organizations, and dedicated individuals step up to do the job. If you have a few hours to spare, let us know, and we’ll keep you updated on when tasks are scheduled.
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