Literacy Program

Our Literacy Program emerged from our work with families experiencing homelessness and living in motels. After numerous requests for books and reading assistance, we launched a Pilot Literacy Program. Following a successful five-month trial, it became a permanent part of our outreach, with 78% of students achieving grade-level reading proficiency by third grade or making significant progress towards that goal.

Students in our program take the same assessments as those in Pinellas County schools. This alignment ensures that their progress is seamlessly transferable to their regular classrooms and provides us with accurate data to track their development.

Our Literacy Program offers free one-on-one literacy tutoring, homework help, snack-packs and drinks, transportation to and from sessions, and educational supplies.

  • In partnership with United Way Suncoast as one of their strategic community partners. This partnership is a three year contract from 2022-2025 that allows us to facilitate helping students experiencing homelessness, low-income, and at-risk situations be on reading level and/or show significant progress towards being on reading level by third grade. We have also received grants from City of St.Petersburg, Debartolo, and other esteemed organizations.

  • We are able to host this programming in partnership with Pinellas Community Church, a church in the heart of the Southside community that allows us to utilize their Youth and Elementary Auditoriums every Thursday from 6-7pm.

  • We require our tutors to complete a background check, basic virtual training, and DCF training to ensure the safety of all children on campus. This is a one-time request. Additionally, we ask tutors to commit to a three-month period or one semester to provide consistency for our students, many of whom are in vulnerable situations. This commitment ensures a stable and supportive environment, which is crucial for their growth and well-being.

  • Yes, absolutely! We always need help acquiring more kid-friendly snacks or putting together snack bags that each student receives on a weekly basis. Additionally we need help putting together weekly dinners for the students. Lastly, providing monetary support to help cover the costs of the transportation service to and from campus is crucial.