By Mia Baldassano
Since we are nearing the end of school, many may question what they should do with all of the time they have on their hands—not including sleeping, of course. Well, here’s your answer. Summer is the perfect time for volunteering, and here in Chatham and in neighboring towns, there are many different opportunities, and here’s one that you may not have known existed.
Do you remember when you were younger, and your parents brought you to the summer reading table in the children’s section of the library? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, in the library’s children’s section there is a table where children log the books they’ve read. When logging a book, they have to answer a question they roll for using a die; some questions include: “What was your favorite part of the book and why?” or “Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?” After their book is logged, the child gets points depending on how many pages the book contains. If they gain a certain number of points, they can grab a prize from the prize chest, which includes pencil toppers, small fidget toys, small dinosaur toys, etc…
If they rack up 40 points, they can go to the end of the summer party, which includes dancing, blowup slides, hot dogs, and much more, and everything is free. If they gain 70 points, they get a free book. Finally, the best prizes include the 100-point prizes, which are locked in a display case and can be anything from a small racket set to squishmallows (squishmallows have always been the favorite). For this program to work, the library needs volunteers to sit at the table and ask the kids who come in questions and write down the points in the child’s log. After each time you go, you can log your hours, and if you get enough points, you can go to the end of the summer party as well. Another important thing about the program is that you can use your hours for any clubs you are in, including Key Club.
What makes the summer program so enticing is that for most of the time, you can relax and chill as you wait for a child to walk up to the table. So it’s perfect to do with friends. If you have time on your hands this summer, make sure to check out the summer reading table in the children’s section of the library.
