This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/18/2014 12:00 AMSheila Greenstein's mission to spread a love of literacy requires a lot of help, but one of the things she runs into most often isn't an unwillingness to help; it's not realizing how simple helping can be.
"There are people I encounter that wonder if they still have something to give or are still needed," she says. "Well, they absolutely are!"
Sheila is a program manager for AARP Experience Corps. She has lived in North Haven since her son, Kyle, was five.
She says, "It went by in a blink, and Kyle is now 26 and an ER tech," while her daughter, Nora now 17, is a senior at North Haven High School.
Sheila's love of literacy rubbed off on Nora. As soon as her daughter was old enough, she started chomping at the bit to join a book club. Together, the mother/daughter duo has been a part of a book group since Nora was in the 4th grade.
It was a natural progression for Sheila to move into her current position at AARP and help others gain a love of reading.
"We recruit the experience and wisdom of older adults 50 years and older and train them to become literacy tutors," she says. "Tutors then go into participating schools to help elementary students build reading and writing skills."
Tutors work about 10 to 20 hours a week- "Timewise it's a huge commitment for volunteers, but they make a huge difference.
"There is something about that inter-generational relationship [with students and tutors] that makes such a big impact," Sheila adds.
Volunteers receive a small stipend and at the end of the year earn an educational Segal Award, a credit they can use for college courses or transfer to kids or grandkids for college expenses.
"Another thing we do is participate in school community events, giving out children's books. It often feels like we work a lot on skills in schools, but not a lot on the love of reading," says Sheila.
Sheila will also be helping get books out to those in need with a new project.
"This summer we will go out and meet the Connecticut Mobile Food Bank Pantry at four locations," where need is great, and "hand out books."
Sheila says, "This is a population that doesn't get many books at all, because if you're struggling to feed your family, acquiring books is not an option or priority."
Prior to working at AARP, Sheila worked in volunteer management with the Girls Scouts, in which capacity she helped coordinate a national program called Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, a troop for girls whose moms are in prison.
Sheila says, "Twice a month we would transport the kids to the women's prisons for Girl Scouts meetings with their moms, doing crafts, poetry, plays, etc."
She confides, "I just love the volunteer piece [of my work] because each person brings a unique set of experiences, perspective, and rich life experiences."
Sheila says she always know she wanted to help people.
"From a young age, I knew I wanted to help, and I have two older brothers who were in the helping profession," she says. "Even my dad, [Norman], who was a public accountant, would volunteer."
Sheila says, "When I was growing up a lot of people came through my house for tax season, and Dad would talk about the widows who didn't know how to use a checkbook and how he would teach them" to be financially savvy, says Sheila.
Helping is a family affair as Sheila's husband, Ed Biondi, has the same big heart and will often be the first to help plow neighbors out in a storm.
All that aside, Sheila says, "Honestly, when you do this kind of work, you get as much as you give...It's just what I do, and it brings me joy."
She adds, "If you want to make changes in the world, you have to be a part of the solution."
If interested in the AARP Experience Corps literacy program or other programs, contact Sheila Greenstein at 203-752-3059 ext. 2900 or volunteer@aoascc.org.
To nominate a Person of the Week, contact Jaki Lauper at j.lauper@shorepublishing.com.