I first volunteered with Words Alive in 2018 at their signature event: the Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser. My husband and I were new to San Diego and looking for ways to contribute to the community. We signed up with volunteermatch.org, an organization that connects people with causes that inspire them by providing lists of volunteer opportunities that match their interests and passions.
Knowing about my love for reading, my husband saw the Words Alive opportunity and suggested I volunteer. So I looked into volunteering for the Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser, found out about the guest of honor (Best-Selling Author Mary Kubica), bought one of her books, and signed up as a photographer. Not a professional photographer, mind you—just someone to take pictures of the guests using their personal cell phones.
The volunteer process was easy and informative. I emailed the program manager, filled out a simple volunteer application, and was offered a choice of available roles along with shift schedules. I was thrilled to also be given the opportunity to watch the author presentation and requested a seat in advance for it! All necessary information about my role and the event was then emailed to me.
It was exciting to attend the event, and I even got to meet the author! Everyone was friendly and helpful, complimentary champagne was served, and volunteers had their own room with drinks and snacks. The guests were happy and it was fun taking their pictures. Once all the guests had arrived, I was invited to enter the ballroom and enjoyed listening to the author interview. Overall, it was a great experience, and I had a good time while supporting the development of children, teens, and families within the community.
My second experience volunteering for Words Alive was writing a curriculum for elementary level students (4th and 5th grade) based on the classic book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Again, the volunteer process was simple. I emailed the volunteer manager about my interest and was relieved to learn that volunteers would receive training on how to write the curriculum guides. So I signed up, attended training (which took about an hour), went home, and immediately started reading the book.
Shortly after training I was sent a follow up email with a completed curriculum guide attached to use as an example and guide for writing my own. This was a big help and made the project much easier. I downloaded the sample curriculum, finished reading the book (but kept it close by for review and reference), and began the journey of creating my first curriculum guide.
Hatchet is an inspiring story about Brian, a 13-year-old boy who is in a plane crash and ends up stranded in the wilderness. His only belongings are his clothing and a hatchet his mother gave him before his departure. Brian experiences a series of challenges as he struggles to survive, but ultimately discovers a sense of self-reliance, confidence, and the courage to stay alive.
I enjoyed writing the curriculum for this book. I've often wanted to be a teacher and this was an opportunity to become one for a short time. I wrote a variety of questions to help students interpret and understand the content of the book. I also came up with ideas for different types of group activities to reinforce the material covered in class.
Writing the curriculum was challenging at times. It wasn't always easy to create appropriate questions or group activities, but I solved this by referring to the book and re-reading specific parts or sections. When I needed extra help with activities, a simple search on Google provided ideas.
Working on the curriculum was a learning experience. I didn't just scan or casually read the book; I often had to examine and analyze content to seek out the lessons. These lessons were beneficial for me as well as the students. I also learned how to compose useful questions based on the character's thoughts and actions that will help children learn important life lessons and impact their decision-making skills. Along the way, I even picked up a few survival tips!
Why I Wanted to Be a Part of Words Alive
My initial interest in volunteering for Words Alive was due to my love for reading books. As an avid reader, I understand the value of reading and the powerful impact it can have on people's lives. So, when I delved deeper into what Words Alive was all about and discovered that their mission is "to open opportunities for life success by inspiring a commitment to reading," and their organization was founded on the belief that "if you value reading and understand its fundamental connection to all aspects of your life, then you will be better equipped to thrive as a lifelong learner and productive member of your community," I knew it was a perfect fit for me.
Reading matters. Reading can change lives. And I know how it's changed mine. By being a part of Words Alive, I'm able to share this message and help others be successful too.
Opportunities to Volunteer
As you can see from this post, there are many different ways to make a difference and volunteer with Words Alive! Not only is it a great cause, the Words Alive staff is easy to work with and have always been very responsive and quick to answer any questions. My experiences with the organization have been rewarding, and I consider it a win-win situation: helping others while doing something I enjoy. And I'm not finished yet. My "day in the life" as a volunteer continues, as I'm now a writer for this very blog.
Are you ready to help make a difference? Now is the time.