Young Men Making a Difference

A group of a dozen young men from Avon High School — along with Principal Matt Shockley, Superintendent Dr. Scott Wyndham, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Sullivan, district administrators, civic leaders, business owners, religious leaders, and hundreds of good neighbors from across the county — gathered early Thursday morning to participate in Men IN Action READ.

After a brief gathering, volunteers received a simple set of instructions, a copy of In Our Garden by Pat Zeitlow Miller, and discussion questions before being sent out to Avon's six elementary schools to read to the children in the classrooms to which they had been assigned.

"The students are always nervous at first," says Shockley, "but afterward they're so excited about the experience." Shockley, who participates each year, always brings a group of students he personally recruits. Not only does this help Sheltering Wings meet their recruitment goals, it's a character- and leadership-building experience for the students.

This county-wide initiative, which is in its sixth year, is spearheaded by the team at Sheltering Wings. Sheltering Wings recruited men to volunteer as guest readers in every elementary school classroom in the six Hendricks County school districts. It's a huge effort, but it's one in which men of all backgrounds and ages are excited to participate. The purpose of the event is to prompt conversations with children about positive values and social skills. It is an effort to support thousands of children in Hendricks County and to demonstrate, in a tangible, memorable way, that there are hundreds of men in the community who stand for safe, healthy relationships and positive values.

Thank you, Sheltering Wings, for providing this awesome service to each of our six elementary schools. Thank you, students, for being an outstanding example to our elementary-aged Orioles.

To learn more

Sheltering Wings     Men IN Action READ