Our Impact
93
93% of parents say their child is a stronger reader
2,818
Read and Feed served approximately 2818 children in 2025 with high-impact tutoring and book distributions.
31834
Read and Feed provides over 31,834 books last year to children in the program.
The Need is Apparent
3rd grade reading proficiency is the most important predictor of high school graduation and career success.
In the Wake County Public School System 2024–25:
- 43.4% of 3rd graders did not demonstrate reading proficiency
Across North Carolina (most recent data, 2024):
- 63.5% of economically disadvantaged 3rd graders are not reading at grade level
Read and Feed partners with local, Wake County schools to identify children at risk and below reading level. Once those children are identified, Read and Feed travels to the children’s neighborhoods to make participating easy.
In the 2024-25 school year, Read and Feed had 49 program sites across Wake County, hosted by facility-based sites, faith-based communities, Communities in Schools sites in the neighborhoods and in our Mobile RV units.
At each session, Read and Feed gives each child a nourishing, well-balanced meal and snack. While Read and Feed partners with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, a local nonprofit organization that provides us with low-cost meals. Last year, Read and Feed serves over 20,116 meals and healthy snacks to our participants.
Each session, children spend 75 minutes of high-impact tutoring with a tutor on their reading skills. Our tutors make it fun – the children don’t even realize they are learning while playing reading games and activities.
At the end of each session, the children select three books to keep to build their home library. There were 31,834 books provided for children during programs and book distributions in 2025.
Read and Feed is a nurturing program. We feed their hunger to learn, build their self-esteem and fill their hearts.
Our Vision
Our vision is a community in which children have the confidence and ability to succeed.
Testimonials
Oralia, Read and Feed Parent
The girls always love getting books and reading them with their tutors. And that helps them. They love the program, especially their tutors and the special attention they receive. The girls love coming to Read and Feed. When they know it's Thursday, they can't wait to get there. They have both improved and are more confident readers. And they have a lot of fun!
Ryan, Reading Tutor
Katie, Reading Tutor
When I first met Jihan she was just starting 3rd grade and she was an excellent reader, but very shy and apprehensive to read out loud. On the first day of Read and Feed she told me that she did not read chapter books because they were too long. Through the wide array of book club books available, I discovered she enjoyed reading nonfiction. I found a short, nonfiction, chapter book that I asked her to read. Once she finished reading the book, I let her know she had just read a chapter book on her own! After that night, I saw a huge boost in her confidence, and she has been willing to tackle every type of book available to read!
