LISA BARGER
Volunteer Focus: SMART Reader program
Blazers Boys & Girls Club
Retired legal assistant at the District Attorney’s office
Tell me about what you do as a volunteer?
I volunteer an hour a week at Blazers Club. It’s kind of cool because it’s a pilot program. We just started in March so I was at the beginning of that which is fun. We go in the afternoon for an hour and they come in for half hour intervals and we sit and either read to the children or they read to us, whichever they feel most comfortable doing.
How’s it been so far?
It has been great. It has been what I thought it would be. It’s so much fun. There are 6,7,8 maybe 9 year olds and when they come in it’s so cute. They see all the books spread out on the table and their eyes light up. I love that part. A lot of times they want to sit and talk for a little bit before they start to read and that’s great. We learn about each other. Then we start in reading. I ask if they want to read to me or if they would like me to read to them and we go from there. A half hour goes by really quickly.”
How has volunteering impacted you personally?
It’s been wonderful for me because I’ve always wanted to work with kids and I love reading and I love to read to kids. Always have. But because I worked full time all those years it was really hard for me to do this type of volunteering. So I knew as soon as I thought about retiring this is what I wanted to do.
It makes you feel good. The kids are happy. They wanna be there. And they have such energy and innocence. That’s the best part.
How do you think the SMART program & Boys & Girls Clubs impact youth?
I think the fact that they’ve incorporated SMART into the program is a real plus. I think they’ll get more and more kids involved and interested.
I know that the Boys & Girls Club is such a good resource because there are all sorts of opportunities for sports, and homework, and reading and interaction and socialization. And if we didn’t have this, where would these kids be if a parent or both parents have to work? It’s a wonderful resource. I hope it continues to get funded. Man, I think it’s terrific.
What do you want others to know about volunteering at the Club?
I have told may people about my experiences and they have loved hearing about it. Especially because some of the tidbits the kids say are just totally fun and off the wall. I think I have three people to become volunteers.
Describe your experience in one word.
Enriching. Definitely for me and I hope for some of the kids.
Any memorable moments?
I can think of one funny story. This is hilarious. This young girl came in, probably about 8 years old. We had a little bit of conversation and she said “how old are you?” and I said “Why don’t you guess?” and she guessed 48, and I thought I’ll take that! And I said “no, I’m 60!” and she said “You almost dead!!”
(laughs hysterically) Oh my gosh! She was so serious. It was so cute. That kind of innocence I just so cute. I like the 48, I would have taken that!
Anything you’d like to add?
There’s so many sweet smiles. I just love that. They come and they sit right next to you and they want to turn the pages, or have you turn the pages. It’s just all spontaneous and it’s all been good. I feel lucky that I can do it.
