“TO THE WORLD YOU MAY BE ONE PERSON, BUT TO ONE PERSON YOU MAY BE THE WORLD. VOLUNTEERS OFTEN EMBODY THIS SENTIMENT.” – DR. SEUSS 

With the 2024–2025 academic year behind us, the San Antonio Youth Literacy (SAYL) Team is now focused on the 2025–2026 school year. Our staff has spent the summer thoughtfully preparing to build on last year’s successes. As students return to the classroom, our primary priority is recruiting and reengaging dedicated volunteers for the Reading Buddy program.

SAYL, like many other non-profit programs across San Antonio that depend on volunteers for their programs, has struggled over the past 5 years to regain the over-500 Reading Buddy volunteers we had prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.  When the workforce went remote and individuals were sequestered in their homes, the entire dynamic of how we interact socially was changed and as result, many of us, although no longer restricted due to health safety, still find ourselves less likely to interact with the world.  With the closing of public schools and our partner universities during the pandemic, and the loss of campus and district personnel across the school districts we served, our program identity was weakened. We have been fighting to reestablish it ever since.  In order to increase the number of Reading Buddies, we are seeking out new opportunities to connect with the San Antonio community. We are very excited with a newly established connection with Opportunity Homes SA to obtain brand new books to distribute to all of the students placed on our campus priority lists across our partner ISDs.  These books are being provided at no cost to us… a huge THANK YOU to them!  In addition, the San Antonio Public Library System has approved a pilot program that will involve creating a “Reading Buddy Zone” at the public library branches across San Antonio.  During the 2025 – 2026 school year, we will be working closely with the Cody Branch Library located in the NISD districts where we currently serve students. This will be as the pilot location with additional libraries being added in future.

In the end though, it comes down to each and every one reading this to step forward and make a commitment to be “to the world, one person, but to one person (child) the world.” Our kids need that one person to help them with their reading skills, help them with their self-confidence, and help them take one more step toward realizing the potential they have locked inside them.  Be one more caring adult in their worlds.  

Please contact us at sayl.org to sign up today!  Here’s to a great 2025 – 2026 school year.