Success by 6 seeks reading volunteers

Tuesday's Success By 6 Leadership Team meeting at the United Way of Southeast Missouri focused on the need for reading volunteers and a variety of scheduled events.

This year, Read to Succeed is pairing volunteers with kindergarten students to help them acquire basic reading skills.

Program director Charla Myers said volunteers are needed for as little as 30 minutes a week Monday through Thursday at all five Cape Girardeau elementary schools. A training session was held Tuesday afternoon at the United Way of Southeast Missouri office, but site coordinators also may offer instruction, Myers said.

Coming events include:

• A focus group for health-care providers is scheduled for noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, 1121 Linden St. The purpose is to get the perspectives of health-care providers about what improvements can be made in care for women and children, based on their professional experiences.
• Project Homeless Connect is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Osage Centre, 1625 N. Kingshighway. Kay Azuma, community coordinator for the Community Caring Council, said agencies will offering services and screenings. Those attending also may be able to get birth certificates, photo IDs and family photos. The Salvation Army has a clothes closet, and packages of food and toiletries will be offered.

At last year's event, 137 households and 326 people were served, Azuma said in an email. Kids Zone, offering activities and child care, will be available for children birth to 8 years old.

• The GrandFamily Conference, for grandparents and other caregivers raising children, is set from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 804 N. Cape Rock Drive.

The keynote speaker from 9 to 9:45 a.m. will be Victor Welburn, a professor in Human Environmental Studies at Southeast Missouri State University. Loretta Prater, former dean of the college of Health and Human Services, will present "Which Caregiver Hat Do You Wear?" at 1 p.m.

Concurrent sessions will cover everything from legal issues and behaviors of abused and neglected children to financial issues and resources, a flier said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

430A Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.