Dr. Seuss once famously said, “You’re never too old, too wacky, or too wild to pick up a book and read to a child.” His words – and books – were at the heart of a new literacy program that launched this spring, linking volunteers with young readers at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos.

Funded by a generous grant from the Dr. Seuss Foundation Fund at the San Diego Foundation, BGCSM Bookworms welcomed 46 first- and second-grade youth as part of the piloted literacy program. Twice a week, youth members met with volunteers at the Jennifer Loscher Branch and Zable Foundation Branch clubhouses to read books, play literacy games, and complete book-themed activities.

“I wanted to be part of this initiative because I love to read, and I think it's such an important foundational skill for young people to have confidence in reading and be able to learn about the world and feed their curiosity. If you can't read, you just can't learn,” said Barbara, a member of Contemporary Women of North County who volunteered weekly to support the new program.

The past spring, BGCSM Bookworms coincided with the Club’s daily Power Hour, which dedicates an hour of Club time each day to focus on academic achievement and provide homework support. While the literacy club focused on elevating and enhancing youth outcomes in reading, it also helped rebuild and reinvigorate volunteer support following the pandemic. Thirteen new volunteers joined the Club through the program, spanning from college students to active retirees.

“It’s been really rewarding to work directly with the kids and do something as impactful as helping them learn to read,” said Nikou, a recent graduate of Cal State San Marcos who is preparing to attend dental school. “This experience actually inspired me to look into pediatric dentistry because I feel so connected with all the kids.”

Avid readers themselves, both Barbara and Nikou know the transformative power that reading can provide, transporting readers to new worlds and introducing people and cultures they might otherwise never encounter. Research continues to show how cultivating a love of reading at a young age has a lifetime of benefits, including helping strengthen self-confidence and imagination, and develop core learning skills.

Earlier this month, youth members and volunteers for the BGCSM Bookworms specialty club got together for a special end-of-school-year celebration to recognize youth achievement and share appreciation for the program’s amazing volunteers. At the beginning of the program, members set their own reading goals, which included goals like reading a certain number of books or improving their reading level by the end of the semester. Nearly all of our BGCSM Bookworms celebrated reaching their reading goals as the program wrapped up.

In total, the BGCSM Bookworms from both the Jennifer Loscher Branch and Zable Foundation Branch Clubhouses spent more than 2,400 minutes reading with volunteers. They also got to take home a total of 262 books to continue strengthening their reading muscles outside of the Club.

The BGCSM Bookworms club plans to return in the fall and inspire even more young readers.

"It is such a joy to see our kids have a love of learning so young, “said Chelsea Piedras, Zable Foundation Branch Director. “Our youth were always so eager to come to BGCSM Bookworms to discuss and connect with staff and volunteers about the books that they were reading together.”

Become a Volunteer

Great Futures are fueled by amazing volunteers. To get started at a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, visit our volunteer page to start your application.