Volunteer Spotlight: Doris Brossou and Pauline Wells

As we're winding down this year's ReadingPals program, we want to take a moment to thank two special volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Doris Brossou and Pauline Wells both volunteer at Alta Vista Elementary in Haines City, and both have far exceeded the required 25 hours of volunteer time for the year.

Doris (pictured top left, seated)has logged 66 hours of volunteer time, as of the end of March, and she spends an average of three days per week volunteering in Mrs. Hill's classroom to work with the children. The children love her, and when this photo was taken, they had made her a heart with a poem that they read to her. Pauline (pictured bottom left, with flowers) has logged 30 hours as of the end of March, also coming in extra days to volunteer in Mrs. Laughrey's class in other ways.

Ninety percent of Alta Vista's students are English second language children, meaning they usually speak Spanish and are learning English. Almost all of them participate in the free and reduced lunch program. These children are in particular danger of falling behind in school because they often start kindergarten with little to no English reading skills, making the dedication and support of these ReadingPals volunteers even more important.

Alta Vista’s principal, Deneece Dudeck, said, "We are blessed to have the United Way’s support and the dedication of the ReadingPals. Thanks so much for your efforts in making our program successful."

And THANK YOU, Doris and Pauline! We couldn't do this program without ReadingPals volunteers like you.