This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Helping Hands: Jay Swerdlow

As a Wonder of Reading volunteer, Jay Swerdlow helps give the community a gift that keeps on giving: literacy.

Name: Jay Swerdlow, Culver City resident

Volunteer Affiliation: Wonder of Reading volunteer reader 

How long have you been a volunteer?  I have been a Wonder of Reading volunteer reader on and off for the last 15 plus years.  I am reading with a student at Clover Avenue Elementary School; I began with him last school year. 

What needs does Wonder of Reading fill? As school district budgets have been cut, budgets for libraries, library books and hours of use were cut as well.  The Wonder of Reading has helped tremendously by partnering with school districts to implement the '#R' program—Renovate, Restock and Read. The readers are all volunteers like me.

Find out what's happening in Culver Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Founded in the early 1990s, The Wonder of Reading is a "wonderful," (no pun intended), organization whose purpose is to instill the love of reading in children.  They try to accomplish this in a number of ways, including renovating public school libraries.  To date they have renovated more than 200 libraries and restocked others with new books.  While most have been in LAUSD, there have been many in the San Gabriel Valley school districts as well that have benefited from Wonder of Reading's efforts.  

What is the most personally rewarding part of being a volunteer? When I am working one-on-one with a student, it is hugely rewarding to watch the student develop—not only as a better reader, but as they grow and develop more self-esteem and self-confidence.

What is the city's most important issue? Whether Culver City, Los Angeles, or all of California, one of our most important challenges is education and specifically literacy.  We are currently not doing a very good job.  I believe every child can learn to read, and hopefully will love to read.  Like adding 2 + 2, reading is a necessity to function in the world.  And ultimately, books can transport you anywhere your imagination can take you.

Find out what's happening in Culver Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It's a great way to escape the pressures of the real world.

Got a volunteer you think we should feature? Leave a comment or post it on our Facebook or Twitter page. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?