The Warren County United Way is currently fundraising for a new reading program with Western Illinois Animal Rescue that would allow children to read to the animals. Executive Director at United Way, Jeannie Weber, states the program is always trying to find ways to boost literacy in our area:
“What this does is allows us to train students who are maybe not the best readers, they are not that comfortable reading in front classes, or they might be learning English and feeling awkward about it. When they are going in and reading to an animal, they are immediately getting comfortable because they have an audience that is really happy to see them. It is also really good for the dogs and cats that are being read to because there is of course that comfort of having someone there to talk to them, but there is also the opportunity for a pet to be adopted,” Weber shares.
Children partaking in this new program will have to go through training on how to interact with the animals. As long as funds are raised the program should launch next year.
Warren County United Way also offers 211, a free program in Warren County available to assist anyone in need. Weber has more:
“It is a free service that anyone that has an issue with housing, food, shelter, or looking for Christmas gifts for their children. Particularly this time of year we get a lot of calls. This is a way for someone to be able to call and get access to all that is available in the county,” Weber states.
This free program is available in any language and can be used by dialing 2-1-1.
