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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Over the years the Children's Literacy Center has tutored hundreds of southern Colorado children.

With a proven success rate, the non-profit continues to thrive, attracting children from all walks of life.

It has been months since the Children's Literacy Center expanded to Pueblo.

The non-profit has been welcomed with open arms by families whose children need a little extra help reading.

But there is a dilemma, the organization has a waiting list of students, and not enough tutors.

"She is really nice, and she helps me through it," 3rd grader Emma said. "She gives me advice on how to help me."

"You get to work with one kid over the course of a semester, so you really get to build a relationship with them," Ming Lee Newcomb, a tutor and Colorado College student, said. "Getting to work around kids is really rewarding and fun."

Twice a week Newcomb and Emma spend an hour together reading.

The two are not alone, as several other students and their tutors also share lessons plans and stories twice a week.

All of the sessions are free of charge.

"I am interested in education, so this is really a great opportunity to get to work with kids one-on-one," Newcomb said.

"I learned my vowels, and I have to practice going slow and reading," Emma said.

Since its creation 20 years ago, the Children's Literacy Center has helped hundreds of students from first to fifth grade.

"It is an organization you can really feel connected to because it touches so many different lives in a really positive way," April Hearne, site coordinator and former tutor with the literacy center, said. "The program is organized by semesters, so the student and tutor will be matched, and then they come twice a week and meet and work with the Peak Reader Curriculum."

This all made possible by generous donations, and of course, volunteers.

"Students get on the waiting list, and we always need volunteers to be trained and enthusiastic and committed," Hearne said.

Which has not, for the most part, been a problem in Colorado Springs.

But for some reason the Pueblo branch is having trouble recruiting tutors.

"I think that getting involved with the community and putting yourself out there can be intimidating sometimes," Hearne said.

"One hour, twice a week, I mean that is ultimately such a very small part of your week," Newcomb said.

A small period of time that has been proven to lead to big results and friendships.

"You get to feel good, not only about yourself, but also about how you are helping this kid," Newcomb said.

"The literacy center makes reading cool," Hearne said. "A culture of reading has really developed around the literacy center that goes home with kids."

If you would like to volunteers, or just donate some new or used books to the Children's Literacy Center of Pueblo or Colorado Springs, click here.