About

Our Mission

The mission of Read and Feed is to give low-income elementary school children an appetite for reading by strengthening literacy skills and providing encouragement in a nurturing, neighborhood environment. Using mobile classrooms, we provide meals to eliminate hunger, mentors to help children read, and books to build home libraries.

Click here for a tour of our mobile classroom. Video credits- Rachel Smith, Communications Intern and Jamie Buning

Our Staff

Kati Mullan

Executive Director

Heather Cross

Volunteer & Program Director

Jamie Buning

Operations Manager

Board of Directors

  • Pamela Meek

    President

    Senior Director, External Communications, SAS

  • Tina Vrabel

    Vice President

    Retired, Fidelity Investments

  • Kathryn Raymond

    Treasurer

    Tax Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

  • Jan Frantz

    Founder & Past President

    Retired Global Vice President of Reichhold Emulsions, Durham, NC

  • James Stem

    Secretary

    Retired Railroad Safety Officer

  • Anuja Acharya

    Data Quality Manager, Cisco Systems

  • Lisa Malmberg

    National Implementation Manager, Recall

  • Mike Owens

    Director of Client Development, Greene Resources

  • Liz Prue

    Wake County Elementary School Teacher

  • Doug Short

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

  • Calvin Stevens

    Director of Business Development & Diversity, Balfour Beatty Construction

  • Sue Stevens

    Retired, Human Resources

  • Benjamin A. Swaney

    Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors

  • Larry Swaney

    Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors

  • Christopher Meredith

    Senior Manager, KPMG, LLP

  • Greg Rideout

    Rideout Research Group

Advisory Council

  • Marty Clayton

    District Manager at Duke Energy

  • Jill Donovan

    Owner of Jill's Beach and Donovan's Dish

  • Bobbie Furr

    Retired Accountant Partner

  • Elizabeth Galecke

    Owner, Elizabeth Galecke Photography

  • Leslie Ann Jackson

    Director of Grants & Scholarships at NC Community Foundation

  • Cecile Noel

    Community Leader

  • Suzanne Stroud

    Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch

  • Pamela Meek

    Sr. Director, External Communications at SAS

  • LaRinda Huntley-Kaplan

    Community Leader

  • George Jordan

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

  • Janis Frantz

    Founder of Read and Feed

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 every child does not have 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.
Our more than 425 active volunteers provide 7,700 hours of tutoring
The program that began in Cary just a few years ago 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 425 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.