We often will need volunteer help for different projects. Sometimes it is working with the students (children, teens, or adults), while other opportunities are things that can be done from the comfort of your home or classroom.

If you are a student and your school requires you to get community service hours each year, there are opportunities for you to help and we can sign off on your contributions. Although our home base is in Charleston County, South Carolina, we serve the needs of people all across the United States, and welcome help from volunteers near and far.

One of our recent volunteer programs had students of all ages making handmade bookmarks to include in our donated literacy learning packs across the country, with several hundred being placed in Little Free Library boxes across the Charleston and surrounding areas.

Our current need is to increase our social media reach, through fun reels that can be made by anyone. With a little creativity, and your own spin on the content, just read the requirements below to submit. You may include any required community service form with your submission, and we will complete and return it to the same email from which you send your submission.

Volunteer Service Opportunity

Program Name: Reels for Good

Make short videos. Earn volunteer/Disadvantaged Population hours. Help real people learn to read.

You don’t need a script, you just need something to say that creates an impact on children or adults. We have provided some guidance below.

You will receive 1 Hour for submitting 5 approved reels (they each must be 30 seconds or longer).

Content Ideas

• Recommend & describe your favorite book
• Share a surprising literacy statistic
• Give tips on how to love reading
• Encourage kids to read more
• Message for teachers or parents
• Encourage adults who struggle — no shame
• Why writing by hand still matters
• Your own idea — get creative!

Need Inspiration? Start with one of the prompts below:

Stats + Impact

“Did you know 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. struggles to read? That’s not a them problem — that’s an everyone problem. Literacy changes lives. Here’s how you can help…”

Book Recommendation

“Okay I know this sounds like a book report but hear me out — [book title] genuinely changed how I think about [topic]. If you haven’t read it, I need you to. Here’s why…”

For Adults

“If you’re an adult who struggles to read, I want you to know you are not alone, and it is never too late. There are free resources and real people who want to help. No judgment. Just support.”

Pen-to-Paper

“We live on screens. But when you write something by hand, your brain actually learns it differently . . . and it sticks! Real learners use pencils. Don’t sleep on analog.”

Your future self

“Every book you read right now is an investment in the person you’re going to be. Your future self reads. Start now.”

The Rules

• Reels must be 30–60 seconds, creative, positive, and energetic — no monotone readings into a camera.
• You can pick a script above, remix it, or come up with your own idea entirely.
• Friends can collaborate! Everyone active on screen gets credit! Each person must submit an hours sheet, as required by your school or organization.
• Reels must be school-appropriate and meet QPEF content standards to be approved.
• Hours sheets will be signed only after reel review and approval. You MUST submit at least 5 reels to get 1 hour. (If you just want to make reels as a volunteer, and do not need service hours, we absolutely welcome your submission of any number of reels, even just one!)

How to Submit

• Make your reels on your own time — solo or with friends.
• Email all reel files + a scanned copy of your service hours sheet to literacy@quirkypickle.com
• QPEF will review, approve, and sign your hours sheet. You’ll hear back within a reasonable turnaround.
• Approved reels will be posted across QPEF’s Instagram, Facebook, website, and other platforms.

Public Use Notice & Consent
By submitting reels and participating in this program, students and their guardians acknowledge that submitted videos may be used publicly by the Quirky Pickle Education Foundation (QPEF) across social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, the QPEF website, and other public-facing channels. Participation and submission of materials constitutes consent for this use. No additional compensation beyond community service credit will be provided.

If you would like to be tagged on your socials when we post your reel, please include that information in your submission email.

Words are your superpower. Be a literacy leader!

www.qpef.org  |  literacy@quirkypickle.com