Manchester Book Club

United Methodist Church Union sponsors a Book Club at Manchester Elementary School on Pittsburgh’s Northside. The Manchester Book Club is a supplemental education and self-esteem “one to one” program.   Each volunteer spends thirty minutes reading and discussing books with one student, then thirty minutes with another student.

St. Paul’s church has participated in this program since the Fall of 2012.  There are three sessions, which run from the beginning of October through May, with a four week break in March when students are being tested.

We now have volunteers going in groups of four to Manchester on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The volunteers meet at St. Paul’s at 8:30 a.m. and drive together to the school where we work with the students from 9:00 to 10:00.  Nancy McKnight and Mark Lenz are our regular drivers. New volunteers are always welcome and needed, especially on Wednesdays.

Those who are interested in volunteering with the Book Club may contact Mark Lenz.  State Police Background and Child Abuse Clearances are required to work with children. For information about obtaining clearances, please contact Jacque Lang in our church office.

The Book Club has been redesigned since it began, and organization has greatly improved. Those who participated in the early years are encouraged to try it again. Many improvements have been made to the program and most of the current volunteers feel that their time is well spent in encouraging and listening to the children as they progress in their reading skills.