Meet Boni & Toby!
Say hello to one of our most loyal Dog Teams, Boni and Toby!
Boni and Toby have been volunteering at SitStayRead since 2021, and they are a classroom favorite! Can we tell you a little bit about them?
Q: There are tons of amazing organizations in Chicago. Why SitStayRead?
A: I think children's literacy is really at the heart of building good communities, and the earlier we start, the better we are. I don't think there's an organization I know of that's doing it in a more fun and rewarding way.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your favorite memory as a SitStayRead volunteer?
A: My favorite memory was when I was first observing a dog team. We were in a classroom, and one group of kids came over; there was one little girl who was quite shy, very timid, and didn't really want to pet the dog. But the next week, Toby and I went back to that classroom, and when she came to the group, she was the last one, and she still seemed timid. But seeing the other kids and having the experience from the week before, she ventured forward and met Toby, and then, really, you could just see a bond. And so allowing her to ease into it and seeing her blossom that way was just, you know, it was so heartwarming.
Q: What's it like being able to volunteer with Toby? Do you think he Likes it?
A: It's really rewarding, and I think it's really rewarding for Toby too! He gets very excited when he puts on his little bandana. He prances down the hallway with his chest out in the school and, you know, very proud of himself and loves all the cuddles from the kids.
Q: Last one, in one sentence, can you tell us why volunteering is important to you?
A: I volunteer because I feel that I've been very fortunate in my life. And now that I can give back, I want to.
If you’ve been following along with our emails this week, you know our goal is to raise $5,000 by the end of this week. With your help, we can ensure students have the individualized literacy support they need.
