Volunteer Spotlight on Jolene Radnoti serving on the Celebrate Christmas Committee with Main Street!

I began my involvement in the annual tree lighting event with Main Street Murfreesboro in 2015 while serving as the Outreach Coordinator for Murfreesboro City Schools. My role on the Christmas Committee included coordinating the Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools' choirs and preparing/lining up the performers inside the courthouse—a task that often felt like herding cats but one I truly enjoyed. 

When I became the Executive Director for Read To Succeed in 2017,  I continued serving on the Celebrate Christmas event through Main Street Murfreesboro. I proposed adding a literacy component to the event. This addition featured Santa reading stories and giving books to participating children from the Boys and Girls Club. We also arranged for volunteers to read to children as they waited to see Santa after the tree lighting. It became a meaningful way to celebrate Christmas's magic and literacy's importance. Initially, I joined the committee as part of my job, but after that first experience, I was hooked. Watching talented children and adults bring families together to kick off the holiday season was heartwarming. My role might not be the largest, but I take pride in knowing we’re creating a little holiday magic and sharing the joy of literacy with the community.