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.
How a Program Site Works
This diagram explains how students are chosen to participate in Read and Feed and what happens after they are enrolled. It also describes the steps one must take to become a volunteer tutor.
Our Staff
Sherry Shudra
Executive Director
Amber Simmons
Program and Evaluation Director
Will Transou
Systems Administrator
Board of Directors
Kathryn Raymond
President
Tax Director, EQT Exeter
Matt Merletti
Vice President
Benefits Consultant, Scott Insurance
Wilson Zhang
Treasurer
M&A, Amazon
Jan Frantz
Founder & Past President
Retired Global Vice President of Reichhold Emulsions, Durham, NC
Carmita Bass
Solutions Director, Business Critical Services, Cisco
Nia Doaks
Attorney, Poyner Spruill, LLP
Niya Fonville
Director of Externships, Campbell University Law School
Samantha Hatem
Media/Marketing Manager, Empire Eats & Empire Properties
Christopher Meredith
Director of Financial Reporting, Pyxus International, Inc.
Benjamin Swaney
Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors
Juan Carlos Villalobos
Associate VP, Southern First
Austin Yarber
CPA - Fund Director, Integrated Asset Advisors
Advisory Council
Pamela Meek
Global Head of Communications, SAS
Marty Clayton
District Manager, Duke Energy
Jan Frantz
Founder & Past President of Read and Feed
Bobbie Furr
Retired, Bernard Robinson & Company, LLP
Leslie Ann Jackson
Vice President of Community Investment and Engagement, North Carolina Community Foundation
George Jordan
President, George H. Jordan III Development Company
Cecile Noel
Community Leader
James Stem
Retired, Transportation Safety Consultant
Calvin Stevens
President, Bernard Irby Inc.
Suzanne Stroud
Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch
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.
