At Strong Start, we see the impact of early literacy support every day. That difference was beautifully illustrated in a recent Haldimand Press article, which highlights the stories of a volunteer and a parent who have both been deeply touched by the Letters, Sounds and Words™ Program.
Michelle Galley Salgueiro, a dedicated Strong Start volunteer, shared how rewarding it is to help young learners grow in confidence and ability. “I have seen firsthand the amount of ‘great’ this program brings to kids, not only through better comprehension and better reading skills,” she said. “It gives kids something they really need, especially nowadays, which is connection and one-on-one attention.”
Constance Bergsma, whose son participated in the program, described a powerful milestone. “[When he first started], it was very hard to get him to read just the basic words, like ‘the’, ‘and’—simple things… [After Strong Start], there he was, reading to his little brother perfectly… It was an absolutely amazing thing to witness.”
We’re grateful to Michelle and Constance for sharing their stories—and to the Haldimand Press for shining a light on the remarkable difference volunteers and parents can make in early literacy.
To read the full article, click here.