The STAND (Socially Together And Naturally Diverse) and AOK (Acts of Kindness) clubs at Valparaiso High School engaged their peers in a school-wide stuffed animal drive and competition for the United Way Reading Buddies program. Each 7th hour class competed for the most “Reading Buddies” raised and for a chance to earn one of two pizza parities donated by Hungry Howie’s Valparaiso. All in all these students collect 143 Reading Buddies that will be used in 1st and 2nd grade classrooms across Northwest Indiana.
The United Way engages the community to help collect 3000+ stuffed animal Reading Buddies every year to increase literacy scores and the motivation to read. Each student in the classroom receives their own buddy to read aloud to every day for 15 minutes or more, and these students love to read to their buddies who offer undivided attention and don’t judge their reading. If you are interesting in helping collect Reading Buddies or in making a donation, please contact Mackenna Schon, Director of Volunteer Engagement at the United Way of Porter County at Mackenna@unitedwaypc.org or 219-464-3583.