The annual Read Enjoy and Develop Success (READS)program at Creston Elementary and St. Malachy schools is in need of about 45 additional volunteers.

The program, which begins in November, couples an adult volunteer with a first-grade student currently learning to read. Volunteers meet with their reading buddy once per week for 30 minutes and help encourage and motivate their student to continue their reading progress.

“This has been a very successful program for about the past 12 years,” said Chris Mansour, coordinator for the program. “This one-on-one reading time really benefits the students. And, for the volunteers, hopefully, it will allow them to make a connection with a young person, help them improve their reading skills and for some volunteers the friendship can be long lasting.”