At United Through Reading (UTR), our mission thrives with the help of our amazing volunteers who connect with military families in their communities, support local events, and share our story and resources.
This month, we’re proud to feature Hailey Shuffield, whose passion for supporting military families is truly inspiring. We invite you to read Hailey’s story below:
I started volunteering with UTR a year ago, and it has been the most rewarding experience. Since then, I’ve represented the program at various events, like the Summer Reading program at Throckmorton Library, where we handed out books to military families, and organized resource tables at local schools and community events. I’ve also helped with recording events aboard the Mobile Story Station around Fort Bragg, and I even do behind-the-scenes work like organizing and delivering books to our community partners.
I first discovered UTR during my time as PTA president at Shughart Elementary. I worked closely with a staff member at UTR and fell in love with the work the organization does for military families. Beyond my volunteer work, I am a stay-at-home mom homeschooling my 3 kids. Balancing these roles has been made easier by the wonderful community at UTR.
As a military spouse, this program is close to my heart. Our family uses the UTR app to maintain connections during my husband’s training events. His recordings allow our children to feel his presence even when he is away. This dual perspective—as both a volunteer and a participant—allows me to advocate authentically for the program across social media while helping other families discover this powerful resource.
A recent highlight of my journey was receiving the Harnett County Governor’s Award. For anyone considering joining this organization, I can say with confidence that UTR has an excellent program, and the people are amazing and dedicated to helping military families connect through the power of storytime. It is a joy to volunteer with United Through Reading!
We love having Hailey on our team, and we are so grateful for her!
Inspired by Hailey’s story? Learn more about volunteering with UTR and how you can share your passion for supporting military families.