Book Buddies Putting the Fun Back Into Reading
By Mary Beth Roach

Janice Walter-Ferrick was so pleased with her initial experience as a volunteer with the United Way of Central New York’s Book Buddies program over the spring, she decided to increase her time commitment. She is now volunteering two days a week.
The Book Buddies program, a collaborative effort between the United Way and the Syracuse City School District, pairs adult volunteers with students from kindergarten through third grade to improve their reading skills through phonics-oriented reading practice.
Walter-Ferrick started in January and worked with students at Dr. Weeks School, on the city’s northeast side for about five or six months. That she saw pretty significant progress inspired her to take on another day.
On one particular Thursday morning this past fall, the 61-year-old DeWitt resident was helping Analia Espinal, a third-grader at Dr. Weeks, who loves to read. Once the first half-hour session was complete with Analia, Walter-Ferrick was scheduled to work with a second student for another 30 minutes.
While they receive good instruction in the classroom, students need to practice and the Book Buddy volunteers can provide the motivation and support that students might need, according to Laurie Black, community educator director for the United Way.
“Reading when you’re struggling is not productive to do it by yourself. You need that attentive adult ear who can just keep you motivated, keep you excited and help you over those humps,” she explained.
Depending on a volunteer’s time commitment, they will work with the same one or two students over several months, in order for the volunteers to build a relationship with their students, Black explained.
It was easy to see that those relationships were already building that morning at Dr. Weeks.
Approximately 15 students came in on their lunch break with their food trays, eagerly looking for their respective Book Buddies partner. More than one student flashed a big grin when they spotted their buddy. They took their seats at the tables in the large instruction room and easily chatted with their buddy, before beginning their lessons and their lunches.
Walter-Ferrick decided to get involved after her mother, whom she’d been caring for, went into a memory care unit. She said she had time and wanted to get involved in a community effort.
“I’ve always felt that it’s really important to get involved, to volunteer,” she said.
There are scores of Central New Yorkers, like Walter-Ferrick, who have signed up for Book Buddies as volunteers, but more are needed.
The program, according to Black, works with approximately 25 students per grade level. That translates to 100 students per school, multiplied by six schools. Adding that sixth school to the roster this year, prompted the United Way to put out the call for more volunteers.
Book Buddies began in 2014 at the Seymour Dual Language Academy; followed by Delaware Primary; Roberts Pre-K through 8; STEAM at Dr. King; and Dr. Weeks Elementary. McKinley-Brighton Elementary was added this year.
The volunteers program range in age from 18 to some who are in their 80s, Black said. Many are retired. Walter-Ferrick, however, is self-employed in the home-health care field and can create her own schedule.
To become a Book Buddy is a three-step process, involving a background check, which is administered by the Syracuse City School District; training; and then putting the volunteers in the schools. United Way provides staff at each of the sessions who put out the lesson materials and support the volunteers.
During the training sessions, Black said she often asks the volunteers why they opted to become involved and the responses run the gamut — they want to continue to be productive in retirement, they like kids, they like to read and they were looking for way to give back.
“There’s an amazing array of our community members that are looking for something to plug into,” Black said.
For those interested in plugging into Book Buddies, visit https://cnybookbuddies.org.