The Fundraiser Sign-Up Sheet
A free A1-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Marisa must choose between two volunteer jobs at the town's spring fundraiser and picks the one that fits her best.
Marisa sees a sign-up sheet at the community center. The town has a spring fundraiser this Saturday. Volunteers can help at the bake sale table. Or they can help at the used book table.
Marisa likes both jobs. She bakes cookies every weekend. She also reads three books a month. She cannot choose right away.
She asks the organizer, Mr. Winslow, about both jobs. "The bake sale needs fast baking," he says. "The book table needs careful sorting."
Marisa thinks about her kitchen at home. She has cookie dough in the freezer already. She thinks about her bookshelf too. It is neat and full.
"I choose the bake sale," Marisa says. "I already have cookies ready to bake." She smiles. "Baking makes people happy fast."
Mr. Winslow writes her name on the list. "Perfect," he says. "We need forty dozen cookies by Saturday."
Marisa laughs. "Forty dozen? I need extra butter!"
She walks home and checks her kitchen. She counts her eggs and her flour. She makes a shopping list for the store.
On Saturday morning, Marisa arrives early. She carries six full trays of cookies. She sets up the table. She lines up the treats in neat rows.
Many people come to her table. "These smell wonderful," says a woman at the front. "Can I get a dozen chocolate chip cookies?"
Marisa grabs a paper bag. "Here you go," she says.
The line gets very long. Marisa waves at a boy from the book table. He waves back at her. Then he turns to help his own customers.
