Read United Day 2026

What is Read United? Read United Day is one of United Way of the Coastal Empire’s programmatic responses to the promotion of Early Childhood Literacy in our region. 

Read United Day is our hallmark event, an initiative that seeks to increase access to books for every child in Pre-K through second grade in our region. The program focuses on children in these lower grade levels because we recognize that an early response to the literacy gap that exists in homes of many low-income households can enable children in these homes to succeed. 

When is it?

Read United Day 2026 will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026 and will cover Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, and Long Counties.

This event will place community leaders and volunteers in classrooms to read to over 20,000 children across our five-county footprint in Pre-K through 2nd Grades. The books the volunteers read to the students will be gifted to the teacher in that classroom to keep for their classrooms.

Students in Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, and Long Counties will each receive a book to take home with them to build up their home libraries.

NEW this year: In lieu of books, students in Chatham County will receive special cards that give them access to multiple books on any given day, expanding their reading skills throughout the year and enabling them to participate in year-round programs.

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER TO HELP?

Over 1,000 volunteers are needed to support this initiative (wow!). Volunteers are asked to sign up for a time slot at the school of their choosing which will entail reading a book to an assigned classroom and distributing either a book or cards to the students, depending on which county they are reading in.

*All books and materials are provided!*

Here's what to expect:

- Volunteer (you!) signs up for time slot, selecting from the options below.

- United Way team will send a confirmation “Before you Go” e-mail with details to include: time, location, classroom, teacher's name, etc..(plus any other details!) before the big day

- Upon arrival to the school, you will receive a United Way Volunteers lanyard and a bag full of goodies for the classroom.

- Each classroom will have a hardback book for the volunteer to read (and then leave with the teacher) and enough books for the kids if reading to Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, or Long Counties, or special collateral for the students in Chatham County.

- Read and entertain the students as you feel comfortable, and once completed, the volunteer will then distribute the books or the cards to the kids (everyone loves this part!).

***Since each time slot is only 30 min., we ask if you are able, to sign up for multiple slots at the same school (for example, 8:30AM, 9:00AM, and 9:30AM)***

-NEW: We will host a virtual volunteer Q&A on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM to answer any last-minutenute questions. A link will be provided within your 'Before you Go' email, prior to Read United Day.

**If you would like to register your group or have questions -- Please e-mail us at: volunteers@uwce.org  Thank you!!!***