Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I choose Connect4Literacy.org?
Connect4Literacy.org is Houston’s go-to platform for those wanting to volunteer and become a point of light by working to improve literacy rates in Houston. The interactive platform allows volunteers to search volunteer opportunities, form volunteer teams, track and print transcripts of service hours, and much more.
Anyone and everyone can volunteer through Connect4Literacy.org! If you believe all Houstonians deserve the opportunity to reach their fullest potential in life, you can play a role in making that happen. Whether you volunteer for special events a few times a year, or for sustained activities such as mentoring a child or adult each week, we need your help.
To sign up and begin your volunteer journey, visit the Volunteer tab and fill out the short form to create an account.
How do I sign up for volunteer opportunities?
To search for volunteer opportunities in your area, login to your account, visit the Volunteer tab and click Find An Opportunity. Use the Basic Search tool to enter your desired parameters, click Search and the available opportunities will populate. You may also choose to view the Opportunity Calendar which shows all available opportunities in chronological order.
Where can I find the number of hours I’ve volunteered?
To view your number of volunteer hours, login to your account, and visit the My Account page. Your verified hours and total hours served will be the large numbers in the grey box.
What is the difference between verified hours and total hours served?
There are two ways to have your hours verified. (1) After attending a volunteer opportunity posted on Connect4Literacy.org, the volunteer coordinator must go into the Connect4Literacy.org system and mark you as attended. When that action is taken, your hours have officially been verified. Before that action is taken, you will notice the number of verified hours and the number of total hours served do not match. (2) As a registered member of Connect4Literacy.org, you are able to self-report your volunteer hours if you did not sign up for a specific opportunity posted on the site. This means that whether you volunteer through a literacy partner or another organization, you can mark those hours in Connect4Literacy.org and the volunteer coordinator of that literacy partner or other organization will receive an email to confirm your hours served. When that action is taken, your hours have officially been verified. Before that action is taken, you will notice the number of verified hours and the number of total hours served do not match.
How do I self-report volunteer hours?
To self-report volunteer hours, login to your account, visit the My Account page, and click Self Report Your Volunteer Service in the left side toolbar. Fill out the designated form to the best of your ability. After submitting this information, the volunteer coordinator responsibility for that opportunity will receive an email asking to verify your hours served. Note: For Organization Name, the drop down list includes current Literacy Partners on Connect4Literacy.org. If you do not see the organization you volunteered with, click Don’t See Your Organization and fill out the necessary information. The volunteer coordinator at that unlisted organization will receive an email asking them to verify your hours served.
How do I print a transcript of my volunteer hours served?
To print a transcript of your volunteer hours served, login to your account, visit the My Account page, and click Print Your Volunteer Hours Record in the left side toolbar. To generate a printable log of your service, enter the start date and end date parameters.
How do I remove myself from a volunteer opportunity?
To remove yourself from a volunteer opportunity, login to your account, visit the My Account page, and find Upcoming Opportunities in your account overview. Locate the opportunity that must be removed and click Remove Me. The volunteer coordinator for that opportunity will receive an email confirming your removal.
What are volunteer teams and how can I create one?
On Connect4Literacy.org, there is the option to create a team of volunteers comprised of your friends, family, club members or colleagues. You can then designate a team captain who will have the responsibility of signing your team up for volunteer opportunities and ensuring all team members attend those opportunities.
To create a volunteer team, login to your account, visit the My Account page, and click Create a New Team in the left side toolbar. Fill out the designated form and then start searching for opportunities. You may create a private (only open to members you assign) or public (open to anyone with an account on Connect4Literacy.org) team.
Note: When adding team members, you must include their full name, email address, phone number and age. The age is important due to some volunteer opportunities requiring volunteers to be 18 years or older.
How do I sign up my organization to be a Literacy Partner, Community Partner or Sponsor?
Connect4Literacy.org and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation are always looking for partners and sponsors to join our army working to combat Houston’s literacy crisis. To learn more about these opportunities, contact Development@BushHoustonLiteracy.org.
Why do I need a background check for some opportunities and how do I get one?
The background check registration question and any associated Connect4Literacy.org background check pop-ups are connected to the Houston Independent School District's (HISD) Read Houston Read program. Once your background check is complete, you will receive a confirmation email and will be able to sign up as a Read Houston Read mentor.
Also note that many of the Connect4Literacy.org Partners may require a background check unique to their organization. Volunteer opportunities that require a background check are frequently posted as Express Interest, which allows the organization's volunteer coordinator to manage the process. If you have any questions regarding an organization’s background check requirements, costs or procedures, contact that volunteer coordinator directly. You can find their contact information listed on the volunteer opportunity detail page.
