School Readiness

The United Way's plan focuses on addressing the underlying challenges that can keep young children, especially those in low-income families, from learning to read proficiently. One of these challenges is school readiness--too many children are entering kindergarten already behind.

Here are a few ways the United Way of Wyoming Valley is addressing to challenge of school readiness.

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LITERACY KITS

Each year, the United Way of Wyoming Valley creates summer-themed literacy kits for children ages 3 – 5 enrolled in Pre-K Counts classrooms across Wyoming Valley. The literacy kits contain age-appropriate books as well as a variety of fun literacy activities and helpful information for parents to keep youngsters learning throughout the summer as they prepare to enter kindergarten.

View the Literacy Kits Flyer | CLICK HERE

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READING BUDDIES

Reading Buddies is a unique volunteer-driven early literacy initiative that connects mentors to students in kindergarten and first grade who need extra help. Students receive individual attention and access to free books. The program is designed to improve students’ fundamental building blocks of early literacy. By fourth grade, students have transitioned from LEARNING TO READ to READING TO LEARN. This fundamental skill of reading is essential. Students not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school or not finish high school on time.

For school year 2022-23, our Reading Buddies program is transitioning to a virtual platform to make volunteering safe and convenient! Volunteering online is easy. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Ashley Winslow at Awinslow@unitedwaywb.org or (570) 270-9109.

New virtual Reading Buddies volunteers can now view training videos and download session materials for easy and convenient access right on our website. | CLICK HERE

View the Reading Buddies Flyer | CLICK HERE

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DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY

The Imagination Library will help you read with your child. There are many reasons parents do not read to their child, but we can eliminate one of them. Every child will have books of their very own, at no cost to you, thanks to United Way of Wyoming Valley.

Each month a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child's name directly to your home. He/she can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library until he/she turns five years old as long as you remain a resident of the Wyoming Valley. Should the child move outside the Wyoming Valley, he/she automatically exits the program.

To be eligible for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, children must be between the age range of newborn through the month he/she turns five, and reside in the United Way of Wyoming Valley service area.

CLICK HERE to go to our Dolly Parton Imagination Library page.
CLICK HERE to view our Dolly Parton Imagination Library graduation certificate.

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ANNUAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DRIVE

The United Way of Wyoming Valley collects new and gently used children's books to distribute to children of all ages across the Wyoming Valley.

View information about our Annual Children's Book Drive | CLICK HERE

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