October 21, 2025 3:05 a.m. 

With the school year again underway, SMART Reading is still seeking volunteers to help kids thrive through reading.

A SMART release said residents are needed to read weekly with local students.

Since 1992, SMART Reading has helped more than 334,000 Oregon children build reading skills and a lifelong love of books. This year, SMART hopes to serve over 1,300 students and give away more than 18,000 blooks in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties, ensuring kids have the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Local SMART Reading Area Director Della Harp said, “Reading with a child for just one hour a week can ignite confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning”. Harp said, “Volunteers often tell us it’s the best hour of their week – and the impact lasts a lifetime”.

To find out more about being a site coordinator or a reader at a school in the Umpqua Valley, call the Roseburg SMART office at 672-6477or go to: www.smartreading.org