Oak Grove Elementary realizes

the need for students to develop strong reading skills as well as the

fact that sometimes students just need a friend that will listen and encourage

them to do their best. This is why the school started an aggressive campaign

last year to recruit additional reading tutors and adult mentors to work

with students at the school.

Flat Creek Baptist, Peachtree City Presbyterian and Peachtree City United

Methodist churches, Oak Grove increased its number of reading tutors and

mentors from three to 32. The volunteers come to the school once or twice

a week to meet one-on-one with their assigned students.

"This is the most volunteers

we have ever had," said teacher Suzanne Bienert. "The teachers

are reporting that they have seen a positive difference in students' social

skills as well as an improvement in their reading skills. This program

has helped to improve the morale of both our students and teachers. I

hope that our new volunteers will want to come back year after year because

they are making a difference in our school."

Although the school has added

a lot of new volunteers, there are several community members who have

been donating their time at the school for a number of years to help Oak

Grove's students. Ian Tracy, a Delta pilot, is in his third year of working

as a reading tutor. When he decided that he wanted to volunteer his time

for a good cause, he thought helping out at the school would be one of

the best things that he could do for his community.

"I chose to do this for

a combination of reasons. I feel that I am doing some good in the world.

Reading is the most fundamental element that a school can teach. Without

the ability to read, you can't be very successful," Tracy said.

Due to Tracy's sometimes hectic

and changing schedule, he has the ability to be flexible in the days he

chooses to volunteer. That is one of the factors that has kept him coming

back each year as a tutor.

"This is a good easy way

to give