Edan Goldfarb, Shaare Zedek Synagogue

Attending the CAP (Community Against Poverty) Fair gave Edan many volunteer opportunities to choose from. After meeting a representative from Ready Readers and learning about their volunteer reading program, Edan knew this was what he wanted to do for his mitzvah project. “I decided this was a perfect opportunity for me because I like to read and I liked the idea of spending time with other kids to teach them to like reading, too,” he said.

Along with his younger brother, Leor, Edan, son of Evan and Avi Goldfarb of Olivette, spent one day a week during the school year reading with a group of two to four year olds at the Kings Day Care in University City. Edan said, “It makes me feel good to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when we arrive every week.  It’s especially fun on the days that we get to give the kids the books from Ready Readers for them to take home.  I hope that by reading to these kids, this will make them want to keep reading and enjoy it throughout their lives.” 

Once a month, the Ready Readers program gives each child a book to take home and read on its own. To support this program, Edan decided to hold a children’s book drive at the end of the year. With contributions from family and friends, he was able to donate over 1,000 books. “Both Kings Day Care and Ready Readers were thrilled to get the donations,” Edan said.

A student at Ladue Middle School, Edan (and Leor) continue to volunteer with Ready Readers this school year. A St. Louis-based nonprofit organization, Ready Readers is dedicated to inspiring at-risk preschool children from low-income communities to become readers. For more information about becoming a volunteer or making a donation to Ready Readers, please visit their web site at www.readyreaders-stlouis.com.

If you or your upcoming bar or bat mitzvah is looking for a volunteer project, please attend the next CAP Fair, sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). It will be held from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Richmond Heights Community Center. For additional details, call the JCRC at 314-442-3871.

Mitzvot from the Heart is compiled by Editorial Assistant Elise Krug. Contact her at [email protected] or 314-743-3671.