WJHG, June 12, 2026 - A local non-profit is helping kids turn the page in learning how to read. Around 44% of children in Bay County are not reading at grade level by third grade, according to United Way of Northwest Florida. “Tablets have taken over lives and so when you have consistent adult showing up for these students, showing them how fun reading a book can be, it can make a huge impact on that data,” said Gina Littleton, the president and CEO of United Way of Northwest Florida. Littleton said their program ReadingPals is working to improve the data.
“To be able to see a child when you come in at the beginning of the year and perhaps, they’re struggling and then at the end of the year they’re reading the book to you, that’s a pretty impactful thing to do,” Littleton told NewsChannel7. As of now, ReadingPals is only offered for Bay and Washington County, but Littleton said they would expand it, to their other four counties if they get volunteers. “There’s a heavy volunteer component so any of those counties that would like to have a ReadingPals program, we just need the volunteers.”
United Way of Northwest Florida is also working with parents, so their children don’t experience the “summer slide.” “Sometimes sitting home and reading for an hour it’s not on the table, so read united is an effort to meet with those parents and give them little tips and tricks that they can do with their student that are super easy,” Littleton said. Those activities can include asking a child to point out a specific letter while in the car or playing slap jack with flash cards. “There are very simple quick things that parents can do with their kids to help keep them engaged and learning when they’re at home,” Littleton continued.
Information to volunteer for ReadingPals can be found here.