Just as cars would go nowhere without gas, and crops would not grow without water, the Community Reading Project would not be helping second-graders with reading difficulties if it were not for its volunteer tutors. Entering its 10th year, Community Reading Project is again looking for volunteers for the fall semester that can spare one hour-a-week to help improve the reading skills of four students at each school site where they are placed. How effective has the program been? Standardized reading measurements, performed at the end of each semester during the 2007-08 school year, showed an average two years of growth per tutored pupil. Community Reading Project is sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and The Bakersfield Californian. It trains and places volunteer tutors to work in teams of five. This method helps students receive assistance every day of the school week. During the past nine years, approximately 2,000 students have been tutored. More