Rebecca "Becky" Seigel retired from a career in health care sales in summer 2017 and started searching for a way to give back.
She read about RSVP Reading Buddies, a program from the Council of Churches of the Ozarks that pairs individuals — age 55 or older — with students in kindergarten through third grade who are not reading at grade level or are at risk of falling behind.
Volunteers spend 30 minutes a week during the school day working directly with a child, who typically does not qualify for other reading intervention services.
The goal is to ignite the love of reading, provide a positive adult mentor and encourage struggling readers.