Children's Book Project, Community Volunteer Services and the Walk-A-Million Program

Children's Book Project and Student to Student Book Program
Since 1998, TRTA members have been heavily involved in the Children's Book Project.  Since the project's inception, more than 500,000 books have been placed into the hands of children who otherwise might never have a book to call their own. 

In 2005, TRTA has expanded the Childrens Book Project to included donations from students to other students, which should increase this project's results significantly in years to come. This program is called the Studen to Student Program.

In 2011, 132,259 books were distributed as part of the Children's Book Project and the Student to Student Book Program.

To learn more about the Children's Book Project and the Student to Student Book Project, download the project guidelines here.

Community Volunteer Service  and Walks-A-Million Program
In 2011, TRTA members contributed 5,772,074 volunteer hours. The Independent Sector estimated the value of a volunteer hour to be $21.79. This could be considered a gift of $125,773,492.46 given to Texas.

15,881,245,901 steps were walked in 2011 for the TRTA Walks-A-Million Program.

The list of possible community service activities for TRTA members to make a difference in their communities is endless. The Community Services Committee contact is listed under the TRTA Web site main menu Contacts button. Or contact your local unit. A brief list of suggestions and categories in which TRTA members can contribute includes:

School related activities
Serve on school boards and/or school-related committees; act as aides by assisting elementary classroom teachers; tutor for state test and other area where extra help is needed; speak about experiences to classes; read to students or listen to readers; act as playground monitors; present art, music or craft programs; work at athletic or literary events; act as judges for essays, art, music competitions; mentor a child. (Any unpaid job at/for school for which you donate your time.)

Community Volunteer Service
Participate in service clubs such as Lions, Shriners, etc.; organizations such as AARP, RTA, Heritage Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts; volunteer to work in hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizen centers, Meals on Wheels; emergency management training activities such as Red Cross, ham radio operators, blood bank; volunteer at the public library assisting or storytelling; install officers for organizations; sit with hospital patients; care for grandchildren while mother works; assist with ticket sales for community activities such as home tours; act as Docent for home tours, city tours, historical places, etc.; assist with community theatre box office; assist a needy neighbor or friend by mowing lawn, repairing lawn mower, assisting with plumbing/electrical problems, changing oil, repairing fence; jury duty; assist homebound with transportation, meals; adopt a section of highway; act as Big Brother or Sister; work on community-wide celebration or activity; volunteer clowning; volunteer in museum.

Religious/church activities
Teach Sunday School classes; be a camp counselor; collect food or clothing for needy; work in food bank; keep nursery; serve as nursing home volunteer; sing in the choir or play a musical instrument for worship services/funerals; play in or instruct hand bell choir; prepare communion; feed the family of a deceased member; serve on church committees; help senior adults or other groups; volunteer in church office.

Assisting senior citizens or disabled
Shop for groceries/medicine; figure income tax; transport to medical appointments; make home repairs; make phone calls to check on those without families; participate in nursing home programs/visitations.