11. People of the Book Literacy Project

Who does it:
Temple Sinai in Oakland CA

What they do:
Provide money, tutors, and library materials for schools and/or children at risk

Time commitment:
Two hours per week for manager and volunteers

Who they do it for and why:
Members of the congregation identified a nearby school where half its students read below grade level, and many come from homes where there are no books at all and not a few of their parents are functionally illiterate. The congregants provide reading tutors and to address the condition of the library. Money was raised from members of the temple, who also donated 1600 books to the library as well as purchasing two hundred new. In addition, members of the congregation engage in either tutoring or staffing the library. Arrangements are being developed to enable B'nai Mitzvah and Confirmation students to volunteer as reading buddies in an after-school program, and consideration is now being given regarding ways to help the children's parents.

We would need:
¨ Someone to determine how such services fit in with current programs provided in the Tulsa area. This information should be available from the Tulsa Board of Education.
¨ Someone would need to determine what schools would benefit from a service.
¨ One or more persons willing to assume leadership of the project and manage it.
¨ A pool of volunteers willing to undergo appropriate training, then to commit to participating in the program as their interests and the program's needs coincide.

If you are interested in organizing or participating in such a program, contact:
Jeanne Jacobs (phone: 747-1309, email timvp@templeisraeltulsa