About

Our Mission

Our mission is to strengthen literacy skills among under-served elementary school children, and provide meals in a nurturing neighborhood environment.

Click here for a 3D tour of our newest mobile classroom. Video credits- Amy Gottholm and Cynthia Quarantello.

Our Staff

Sara Thames

Program and Evaluation Director

Kati Mullan

Executive Director

Board of Directors

  • Tina Vrabel

    President

    Retired, Fidelity Investments

  • Greg Rideout

    Vice President

    Rideout Research Group

  • Sue Stevens

    Secretary

    Retired, Human Resources

  • Christopher Meredith

    Treasurer

    Director of Financial Reporting, Pyxus International, Inc.

  • Jan Frantz

    Founder & Past President

    Retired Global Vice President of Reichhold Emulsions, Durham, NC

  • Diana Bernas

    Executive Communications Manager, Cisco Systems

  • Pamela Meek

    Sr. Director, External Communications at SAS

  • Mike Owens

    Business Development, Maupin Travel

  • Kathryn Raymond

    Tax Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

  • Doug Short

    Attorney, Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A.

  • James Stem

    Retired Railroad Safety Officer

  • Margo Stutesman

    Senior Marketing Manager, SAS

  • Caroline Suddreth

  • Benjamin A. Swaney

    Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors

  • Larry Swaney

    Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors

  • Kristin Walker

    Governor's Deputy Budget Director, State of North Carolina

Advisory Council

  • Leslie Ann Jackson

    Chair of the Advisory Council

    Vice President of Community Investment and Engagement for the North Carolina Community Foundation

  • Marty Clayton

    District Manager at Duke Energy

  • Bobbie Furr

    Retired Accountant Partner

  • Jan Frantz

    Founder of Read and Feed

  • Elizabeth Galecke

    Owner, Elizabeth Galecke Photography

  • George Jordan

    Developer and owner of George H. Jordan III Development Co.

  • Cecile Noel

    Community Leader

  • Calvin Stevens

    Director of Business Development & Diversity, Balfour Beatty Construction

  • Suzanne Stroud

    Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch

Our Impact

Read and Feed has been helping Wake County students learn to read for ten years. Learn about our effective program »

Our Current Program Sites

Read and Feed is currently serving these neighborhoods. Take a look »

The Story of Read and Feed

Several years ago, Jan Frantz was volunteering as a tutor at Northwoods Elementary when she realized that not every child has the resources necessary to improve their reading and writing skills. In October of 2007, after months of research, Frantz quit her corporate job in order to help children in Wake County. Frantz purchased an RV and converted it into a mobile classroom that could travel to the neighborhoods of children in need. Frantz loaded the mobile classroom with books that she had been collecting in her attic. Then she prepared sloppy joes to serve the children for supper. Not sure what to expect, Frantz arrived at Penny Road Elementary in Cary to offer the first Read and Feed program. Sure enough, seven eager children came aboard the mobile classroom ready to read and learn.
425+ active volunteers provide 7,700 hours of tutoring
The program has expanded to serve more than 600 children each year. With three mobile classrooms and additional sites in Communities in Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs and area churches, we now serve 24 program sites in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Rolesville, Knightdale and Zebulon. Our more than 500 active volunteers provide 7,700 hours of tutoring, drive our mobile classrooms, deliver food and supplies, sort and distribute the 33,000+ books we give to children annually, and provide crucial administrative services.