MARSHALL, MN — United Way of Southwest Minnesota is seeking volunteer readers for Jumpstart’s annual Read for the Record event on February 26, a nationwide reading celebration that highlights the importance of quality early childhood education.
Read for the Record will attempt to set a global record for the largest shared reading experience. Over the past 20 years, more than 30 million people have participated nationwide. Locally, more than 1,100 volunteers have read to over 26,000 children during the past 11 years. UWSWMN coordinates the event across elementary schools (kindergarten through second grade), preschools, childcare centers, and libraries in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and parts of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties. All books and materials are provided by UWSWMN and donated to participating sites.
This year’s featured book is See Marcus Grow by Marcus Bridgewater, an intergenerational story that explores nature, curiosity, and growth through the relationship between a child and his grandmother. Approximately 140 volunteers are needed to read to children during 20–30-minute classroom or site visits. Volunteer registration is now open, and readers are encouraged to sign up early to secure their preferred location.
