How You Can Help

WHRO and WHRV FM offer a unique and relatively unknown service to over a thousand visually impaired Hampton Roads residents.  Whether these persons are blind, have poor eyesight, or simply cannot hold a newspaper, we bring them daily readings of the Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, and a variety of other publications.

Should you be interested in volunteering for this unique activity, here are a few facts you might want to know:

• You must be available for two hours at a time, once or twice per month, between Monday through Saturday, from nine am to two pm, or on Sundays between noon and five pm.  (Times may be subject to change.)
  
  
• You always read LIVE, with a partner.  This is not a group activity.  So, when you cancel or run late it can be VERY awkward to say the least!  We try to be flexible in terms of your other commitments, but ideally you will be on the air, reading newspapers (not books), on a very regular basis that does not allow for three or four month gaps.
  
  
• You will be asked to read a portion of virtually every section of the daily newspaper – whether or not the topic interests you personally. You must also be objective in your reading, and leave your personal opinions out of it.
  
  
• You must be able to read well out loud … not flawlessly, but with reasonable accuracy and a bit of variety in your voice.  Should you try reading for the “Voice,” you will be asked to continue doing so (after the first three sessions) only if both you and the coordinator are mutually comfortable with how you sound on the air.
  
  
• We read DAILY, including all holidays.  So, while there will always be some degree of flexibility, you might occasionally be asked to read to our blind listeners on Thanksgiving, Christmas, July Fourth, etc.  Of course some readers are only available on weekends; others on weekdays.  However, we are not able to accommodate readers who are only available one day per week.
   

SINCE OUR 90 OR SO VOLUNTEER READERS ARE VERY COMMITED TO THIS ACTIVITY, THERE WON’T NECESSARILY BE AN OPENING AVAILABLE WHEN YOU APPLY.  HOWEVER, ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITING LIST, AND YOU’LL EVENTUALLY GET THE CALL TO BECOME A “VOICE” READER.

Listeners to the Hampton Roads Voice must have special radios to receive our signal (or internet access).  These radios are provided free, thanks to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the United Way of South Hampton Roads, The Lions Club of District 24-D, and other groups and individuals.  To inquire about becoming a reader- or to obtain a radio – call Meg Brown at 757.889.9366 or email megan.brown@whro.org.