Georgiann Morrow said she has always loved to read and can’t remember a time when she couldn’t read. In her spare time, Morrow, a retired nurse, volunteers to read for Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS).
Morrow has clocked in more than 1,550 hours of reading for IRIS.
IRIS serves people with a visual, physical, or learning disability as well as English as a second language learners and other conditions that affect a person’s reading. IRIS began as Central Indiana Radio Reading Inc. in 1983 at Butler University but moved to WFYI in 1994. Currently 4,000 people from ages of 10 to 104 are signed up for the free service. IRIS reads newspapers such as the Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis Star and USA Today as well as comic books and plays such as Charles Dickens’, “A Christmas Carol.”
Morrow started reading for IRIS in 1995 after her church, Light of the World Christian Church, challenged members to do outreach outside of the church and outside of their comfort zone. Accepting the challenge, Morrow went looking for volunteer opportunities and found IRIS in the volunteer section of the Indianapolis Star.
“I like to read, I can do this.” Morrow said at the time.
When Morrow started, they were looking for someone to read the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, and she thought it was great that she could read an African-American newspaper for IRIS. Morrow said that she likes reading for IRIS because it’s selfless.
“I like the idea that people other will hear it and get the information, and that I’m doing something that would serve someone other than myself,” Morrow said.
IRIS is comprised of mostly local volunteers. You must audition to be a reading volunteer, but Mandy Bishop, operations manager, said that it doesn’t take much to volunteer at IRIS.
“To be a volunteer you must able to read and show enthusiasm for what you are reading but that’s pretty much it,” Bishop said. “We can work with high voices, low voices, booming voices and even children.”
Tamarria Day, a senior at Indianapolis University-Purdue University Indianapolis, began volunteering for IRIS two years ago.
“I have a passion for radio and informing others about what’s going on in the community, and by volunteering here, I’m learning the ropes about broadcasting,” Day said.
Contact Staff Writer Mariah Lee at 313-762-7853. Follow her on Twitter @mariahlee1994.
Signing up for IRIS
IRIS offers an online live stream as well as an on-demand service. Both are free, however, the on-demand service includes a free receiver after sign up.
Tune in live at wfyi.org/iris-reading-services. For on-demand online or call 317-614-0404.
Interested in being a reader? Visit wfyi.org/iris-reading-services.
IRIS volunteer Georgiann Morrow reads the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper for people who have difficulty reading. (Photo/Ron Foster Sharif)
