GEORGETOWN, SC (WBTW) – The Black River United Way received a $192,817 grant from the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service. The grant money will be used to implement a Kindergarten – 2nd grade reading program in Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties.

The grant will bring 30 Americorp volunteers to serve five schools in Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties. Those schools are: Sampit Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, McDonald Elementary, Anderson Primary and Hemingway Elementary School.

There is a big focus on the K-2nd grade group because the 3rd grade is an important transition time.

“From kindergarten to 3rd grade they are learning to read, and after third grade they are reading to learn. So if we can instill that love for them right now, then it makes the rest of their learning career a lot easier,” said Director of Community Impact, Yolanda McCray.

In 2015, two out of three students in Georgetown County scored below “ready” on the ACT Aspire test, according to the Black River United Way. In Williamsburg County, four out of five students fall into this category.

Lucy Woodhouse, CEO of Black River United Way, says this grant will allow the students to be impacted not only in the classroom, but through tutoring services, after school programs and parent workshops.

“We’re not just relying on the schools to teach our children to read,” said Woodhouse. “It’s so much more important to include the schools and the communities around them, the parents and the employers of the parents and the faith community. It takes us all to teach that child to read, not just a teacher in a classroom during the day.”

The Growing Great Readers Americorp program still needs volunteers, and high school seniors could even get a scholarship for helping out.

“We actually have positions open for high school seniors that could commit to serving in a school. They receive an allowance and an education award that could go towards their college,” said Program Director, Donna Anderson.

If you would like to get involved, visit the Black River United Way’s website here.