By Mel Rubenstein
Contributing Writer
This month features two volunteers, Zach and Linda Karmen, because they are partners in marriage — and in volunteering.
The Karmens met in high school in their home town, Waterbury, Conn. Linda graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and received her master’s degree in special education at Syracuse University. Linda worked in the Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Program for over 20 years. She went on to become the director of Special Children Services for Onondaga County, and the deputy commissioner of the Onondaga County Health Department.
While in high school in Waterbury, Linda began volunteering as a hospital candy striper, and while in college volunteered at an elementary school helping students with reading problems. In Syracuse, she has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She currently volunteers at the FM Community Outreach and Food Pantry.
Zach graduated from the University of Buffalo and earned his law degree at Syracuse University. He was legal counsel for the Onondaga County Department of Social Services. Zach also became head of the legal division of the department. Since retiring from Onondaga County, he continues his legal work as an attorney-for-the child in family court, representing children in custody, abuse and neglect cases. Zach has served on several boards, including the downtown YMCA.
In 2012, Linda Karmen served on a study group for the Onondaga Citizens League, led by Laurie Black, then administrator of Syracuse 2020. This study led to a pilot for the Book Buddies program, as part of the local Campaign for Grade Level Reading. The goal of the program is to increase student reading ability and fluency by providing reading support to students who would benefit from working one-on-one with a volunteer. The students are identified by their teacher, and Book Buddies are assigned to help them on a twice weekly basis, providing individual support and assistance with sight word recognition and the development of reading fluency.
“Book Buddies connects volunteers with struggling readers in first through second grade to help students build strong literacy skills, gain confidence and discover the joy of reading,” according to Black. “Volunteers are the heart of the Book Buddies program. Volunteers donate an hour a week to work one-on-one with first and second grade students at Seymour Academy. Our volunteers often say that Book Buddies is the best hour of the week. That’s because they feel great satisfaction helping a child learn to read. Volunteers also benefit from the strong bond they develop with sweet and appreciative students.”
At this time in their lives, Zach and Linda wanted to find a project that they could do together. Book Buddies filled that requirement perfectly. This was a natural for them because both of their professional careers involved working on behalf of children who needed assistance.
The Karmens enjoy giving extra support to kids learning to read in the first and second grades, because statistics show that children who do not achieve grade level reading by third grade are less likely to have success in school, work and life. Zach and Linda spend an hour once a week with a first grader and a second grader. This is their third year as Book Buddies.
“It has been very rewarding because after just a few weeks we develop a relationship of trust with the kids,” Linda said. “We also get so much back from them, seeing the children progress, and become very invested in their success. All of the Book Buddies volunteers are very committed to this program.”
Zach agrees. “It must be working because what began with 40 kids at the Seymour School, grew to 100, and now to 150 students involved in this program. That growth has been possible because both the volunteers and the kids who have benefitted from Book Buddies become enthusiastic supporters and ambassadors for the program. There are over 100 very dedicated volunteers making Book Buddies a success.”
“As these kids experience progress in their reading skills, they look forward to our sessions with them,” Linda added. “They realize we are not there to discipline, but to encourage. We are like their own personal cheering section.”
Research has shown that just 20 minutes of reading one-on-one every day makes a very big difference. The program sends messages home to encourage parents to read with their child just 20 minutes a day at home. “The kids respond because it makes them feel special, and they come to see that reading can be fun,” Linda said.
The Karmens have two adult daughters and started reading to them when they were babies. This has transcended to the next generation, too, because now they have a grandson who loves books too.
When the Karmens were asked if they had any ideas or wish list for the Book Buddies program, Zach said, “Linda and I wish these kids could have reading partners five days a week. The bottom line is that the child should know there is someone who cares for them and is invested in their success.”
Zach enjoys sports related outdoor activities. He is a runner, triathlete and golfer, and he and Linda also like to bike and hike. Both Zach and Linda enjoy traveling and intend to do a lot of that when he retires next year. The Karmens live in Fayetteville.
Laurie Black says that Book Buddies is an effective way to change someone’s life — including your own. To volunteer, contact [email protected].
To recommend someone with a stellar record of volunteering to be featured in this column contact Mel Rubenstein at [email protected] or 682-7162.
