30 | MARCH 9 • 2023 

M

arch is a wonder-
ful time of year for 
celebrations! As 
you enjoy Purim and Reading 
Month with your family and 
friends, please consider joining 
in on one of the following vol-
unteer opportunities as well. 
 Keep an eye out for litera-
cy-centered events this month. 
United Way states: “Research 
shows that reading aloud to 
children is the single most 
important activity for eventual 
success in reading, a key factor 
for success in school, work and 
life. When an adult reads aloud 
to a child, both parties have a 
joyful, rewarding experience 
that instills a love of reading, 
improves literacy skills and 
enhances a child’s self-confi-
dence.
”
Brilliant Detroit is looking 
for volunteers to support March 
is Reading Month. Volunteers 
are needed to support daytime 
literacy-focused events through-
out the month. At Brilliant 

Detroit, they believe that liter-
acy is a critical component of a 
kid’s success. Each site is offer-
ing unique programming and 
has different volunteer needs. 
Events include assisting with 
literacy game stations and read-
ing aloud to small groups. Visit 
https://brilliantdetroit.galaxy-
digital.com to find an oppor-
tunity that suits you, or email 
volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org 
with any questions.

United Way’s Read Aloud 
Mentoring Program, which 
serves four schools in Pontiac 
and Detroit through one-to-one 
mentoring, needs volunteers. 
Adults serve as reading men-
tors for students in grades K-4 
at local schools during their 
lunchtimes. The goal is to instill 
a love of reading and provide 
social-emotional support. 
Mentors attend 30- 
minute reading sessions with 

their student once a week or 
every other week through the 
end of the school year. Virtual 
opportunities are available at 
some of the schools, so inquire 
if that interests you. All volun-
teers will attend an information 
and training session prior to 
beginning the program. To 
sign up, visit https://liveunited-
sem.galaxydigital.com/need/
detail/?need_id=359289. 
Yad Ezra needs extra hands 
to help with Passover food 
packing and distribution. On 
March 19, there are two pack-
ing shifts offered: 9-11 a.m. 
and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. On March 
26 and 27, there are multiple 
shifts available to distribute 
Passover packages to clients 
at the Passover drive-though. 
Clients will come to Yad Ezra 
and receive a box of food for 
their seder that aligns with the 
size of their family. To sign up, 
visit https://volunteer.yadezra.
org. A background check is 
required. 
Life Remodeled hosts LIT 
Fridays on the fourth Friday 
of each month from 4-8 p.m. 
at the Durfee Innovation 
Society in Detroit. LIT 
Fridays are monthly youth 
and family engagement events 
planned and executed by 
the Life Remodeled Youth 
Alliance (LRYA), a group of 

Yad Ezra is 
looking for 
volunteers to 
pack food boxes.

OUR COMMUNITY

Calling All Volunteers

Plenty of chances to do a mitzvah.

SAMANTHA FOON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

March is 
National 
Reading Month.