Inspiring Reading Skills Close To Home

Two volunteers from Young Millenials of Texas bring a book to life for a student, with puppets.

The joy of reading! In order to develop that joy, access to books is needed. Even today, with all of the latest technology and public library systems, some children don't have that access. Trish Schapell, a Texas educator, noticed that there were children in her section of Houston who had no access to books in their homes. That observation called for action.

Trish and her husband, Vince went to work, creating special places where children CAN have access to books very close to their homes, THE KIDS' READING ROOM. Starting in two apartment complexes, these rooms were furnished with donated books, snacks, volunteer storytellers, and lots of cozy spaces where kids could read.



Ms. Schapell  said, "The Kids' Reading Room makes an impact socially through promoting literacy in children. My goal is to create children who will grow up to be not only Readers, but Leaders in society. It all begins at an early age. I have the opportunity to help them set goals at an early age and to understand that they too can make a difference in the world."

Since 2013, when the first two reading rooms were furnished, the program has now grown to five reading rooms. Each reading room contains 2000 to 3000 books, all donated, and a group of volunteers, who provide that all-important reading motivation, read with the kids, and mentor them, too.

Most important is the support from various organizations and individuals. Around Christmas time, Reading Is Fundamental donated 600 new books, while other organizations, like the Barbara Bush Foundation, which donated 500 new books, also came through. The local Chapelwood United Methodist Church donated funds to provide furnishings and snacks for the student users, just in time for the start of this year. That fifth reading room, which opened this year, couldn't have had its timely start without the help of JCS Furniture, which donated six bookshelves. The organization is working on a sixth reading room and JCS has also provided shelves for that one, too.

Trish Schapell opens a box of books from Half Price Books.

The Kids' Reading Room is an organization that continues to grow, raising the next generation of reading Leaders. In everyday functioning, these rooms and volunteers motivate students to make one of the biggest steps to being able to access today's technology, for that can't happen without being able to read.

An enthusiastic kickoff of the summer reading program.

Thanks to information from this article on Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/trish-schappell-the-kids-reading-room/; and the above link.

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