Chicago Literacy Volunteering & Donation Opportunities

Get Involved with SitStayRead & Support Chicago’s Youngest Readers

Help advance children’s literacy by donating or volunteering with SitStayRead.

Donate Today  Fill out a Volunteer Application

Come along with us to hear from some of our Second Grade students about what it’s like when SitStayRead visits for a program with our Certified Reading Assistance Dogs!

Our Impact

Increasing Attendance & Literacy Rates

Rising absenteeism and decreasing reading averages are impacting schools across the United States, including many in the Chicago area.

Through literacy volunteering & donation opportunities, you’re supporting our mission to advance children’s literacy and build confidence in young readers through an engaging curriculum enriched by Certified Reading Assistance Dogs.

How You Can Help

Two women indoors, one kneeling beside a beagle, the other sitting holding a small black and white dog, with shelves and boxes in the background.

Volunteer

Join the Pack

Volunteers help us further the SitStayRead mission. Whether you’re interested in volunteering solo, with your dog, or as part of a group, we look forward to welcoming you to the pack.

A group of young children in school uniforms sit on a colorful classroom rug, each holding a copy of the book "Love Me Gently" and smiling at the camera.

Give

Donate to the Cause

Your support directly impacts the young readers of Chicago. From one-time donations, tribute gifts, planned giving, or recurring donations, there are countless ways to support SitStayRead.

When I began volunteering with SitStayRead I was blown away at the incredible impact that the combination of a curriculum, dogs, and volunteers has on the children.

Every student has the right to literacy and SitStayRead is providing these students an avenue to reach their dreams. As soon as the SitStayRead team enters a classroom, there is an indescribable enthusiasm, artfully channeled to concentrate on critical literacy building blocks. It is hard to describe until you are there!

Ben

Volunteer

I volunteered for SitStayRead for 8 years — first as a Dog Team and then as a Book Buddy working without a dog.

The program is evidence-based, meaning it has been studied and proven to be effective in helping improve the reading ability of the children it serves. When kids who have trouble reading read to the dogs they don’t have to worry about making mistakes. They feel comfortable and gain confidence and become better readers, which puts them on a path to more success in school, which puts them on a path to more success in life.

Kerry

Former Volunteer

Early Literacy Volunteering

Chicago Volunteer Opportunities

SitStayRead volunteers are known as Book Buddies and Dog Teams.

Together, with a SitStayRead Program Lead, our volunteers work with small groups of students in the classroom, providing support on reading, writing, activities, and literacy games.

Every volunteer begins their experience as a Book Buddy, and does not need a dog to participate. Volunteers with a furry friend who wish to go through the certification process may become a Dog Team.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

Fill Out an Application

An adult and two children sit on a colorful rug in a classroom, reading to a small white dog wearing a blue vest.

How the Volunteer Process Works

Have questions about the volunteer process?

Read our FAQ.

  • Step 1: Apply
    • Volunteers must be 18+, have weekday availability, and be able to commute to the neighborhoods we serve.
  • Step 2: Orientation
    • After reviewing your application, our Volunteer Program Manager will work with you to schedule a virtual or in-person orientation session where you’ll learn more about SitStayRead and our programs.
  • Step 3: Training
    • After orientation, you’ll join us for a virtual or in-person training. This involves learning our program structure and your essential role in helping us in the classroom.
  • Step 4: Background Check
    • All SitStayRead volunteers must pass a background check and complete a liability form. CPS and other program partners may have vaccination or masking requirements.
  • Step 5: Observation
    • We want every volunteer to feel confident in their role. Your first time in a classroom, you’ll shadow and observe an experienced Book Buddy volunteer.
  • Step 6: Lead & Certification
    • Your second time in a classroom is your time to shine as a Book Buddy Lead! This visit will be evaluated with experienced volunteer peer feedback. Upon completion, you’ll be a fully certified Book Buddy Volunteer.

Before becoming a Dog Team, you will need to become a Book Buddy. See the above steps for that process.

Those interested in becoming a dog team will also need to complete the following:

  • Step 7: Complete a self-guided Certified Dog Team informational quiz
  • Step 8: Submit your dog’s vet records. All SitStayRead volunteers must pass a background check and complete a liability form. In addition, all dogs must be up to date on their vaccinations. We’ll need the following information from your vet:
    • Dog age, breed, spayed/neutered
    • Date & expiration of Bordetella shot
    • Date & expiration of Distemper/DHPP shot
    • Date & expiration of Rabies shot
    • Date & expiration of Negative fecal result within the last year
    • Date & expiration of Canine Parainfluenza Shot (optional)
  • Step 9: Observation. We want every volunteer to feel confident in their role. Your first time in a classroom, you’ll shadow and observe an experienced Dog Team volunteer.
  • Step 10: Obedience test (pass or fail). Your dog must be able to pass an obedience text with our certified trainer.
  • Step 11: Dog Team evaluation- Your first visit with your dog in a classroom! (pass or fail)
  • Step 12: Dog Team Certified- If you pass your evaluation, you are officially a SitStayRead Certified Dog Team!
A black and white dog lies on a carpet next to stacks of children's books, including "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Horton Hears a Who!.
A woman and a young girl sit on the floor with a small dog in a classroom; books and blankets are spread out nearby. Other children and adults are in the background.
A young girl in a pink hoodie sits on the floor, petting a small dog wearing a blue bandana in a classroom setting.
An adult and a child sit on the floor in a classroom, petting a dog lying on a blanket. Children's books are scattered nearby.
Four women pack books and supplies into plastic bags at a table in an office or classroom setting.

Donate to Early Literacy

Explore Ways to Give & Ways to Raise

We are so grateful to every donor and funding partner that makes our literacy programming possible. A gift of any amount is no small contribution.

From purchasing books for classrooms to covering our operational costs, every dollar counts and plays an important role in advancing children’s literacy.

We make it easy to give. Learn how you can donate to early literacy today.

Ways to Give

 

SitStayRead is dedicated to building the love of literacy and also to developing reading skills, patience and confidence in children.

Students and teachers looked forward to every Friday as they love having the volunteers come with their dogs to the classroom. It is always the highlight of their week.

Edna Mercado

Assistant Principal of Daniel R. Cameron Elementary

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More About SitStayRead

Looking for something else?

Explore all FAQs

No, it is not necessary to have a dog, we welcome all volunteers! Many of our volunteers are Book Buddies who do not have dogs, but still enjoy volunteering with kids and want to support the SitStayRead mission. In addition to Book Buddies, we have many Dog Teams who do go through the process of getting their pet certified as a Reading Assistance Dog.

All SitStayRead volunteers must pass a background check and complete a liability form. In addition, all dogs must be up to date on their vaccinations. You’ll need to provide the following information to move forward with becoming a Dog Team:

  • Dog age, breed, spayed/neutered
  • Date & expiration of Bordetella shot
  • Date & expiration of Distemper/DHPP shot
  • Date & expiration of Rabies shot
  • Date & expiration of Negative fecal result within the last year
  • Date & expiration of Canine Parainfluenza Shot (optional)

Our primary volunteer opportunities in Chicago are in public school classrooms, and involve a 6-8 week residency with a roughly 2 hour commitment once weekly during that residency time period. A commitment to attending every weekly session is ideal for the students.

SitStayRead also hosts one-time classroom visits and occasional one-time public events.

Every dollar we receive from our donors and funding partners plays an important role in keeping our programs running. From covering general operating costs to purchasing new books for students, a gift of any amount makes a difference.

  • $25 can help get new books to students 
  • $100 can underwrite 2 Dog Team Certificates 
  • $250 can support our staff as they develop ongoing curricula
  • $500 can underwrite a Family Literacy Event
  • $1,000 can underwrite a one time school visit

Our current priority neighborhoods are Archer Heights, Auburn Gresham, Belmont Central, Gage Park, Galewood, Little Village, Pilsen, and South Austin. We prioritize Chicago Public Schools when possible, and offer fee-based Family Literacy Events to a wider range of Chicago organizations.

We focus on early literacy and social-emotional learning in small group settings. Teachers report stable or increased attendance on program days, and students gain confidence reading aloud. Our programs are structured, research-informed, and designed to support classroom goals.

Developed in partnership with local educators and faculty from the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Literacy, the University of Chicago, DePaul University, and Northeastern University, our bilingual (English and Spanish) curriculum helps students learn to read in a fun, engaging way.

Program staff regularly review curricula for each level and are currently revising the second grade curricula with a lens focused on inclusion and belonging.

Support Early Literacy Programs

Your time, generosity, and partnership helps young learners build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in school and beyond.

Fill out an Application Donate Today