Literacy Connection needs volunteers

Have a heart to help a neighbor one to two hours a week. The Literacy Connection seeks volunteers to tutor adults in Basic Reading or English as a Second Language. Flexible training is provided, and no special education or knowledge of a second language is necessary.

Attend a free orientation for prospective tutors from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at Grace Evangelical Church, 1800 Bowes Road, in Elgin. Training workshops will follow at the same location from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, Feb. 8-25. Volunteers can make up missed sessions during a later training series or online.

If you are over 18 and can read, write, and converse in English, you can literally change a life as a tutor. Many learners struggle to read prescriptions, write checks or communicate with their children's teachers. You can help change that and enable adults in your community to become more independent. For information, call the Literacy Connection at (847) 742-6565, e-mail info@elginliteracy.org, visit www.elginliteracy.org or attend the Feb. 4 orientation.

The Literacy Connection, an affiliate of ProLiteracy America, serves adults and young children in 16 communities: Algonquin, Bartlett, Carpentersville, Cary, Elgin, South Elgin, East Dundee, West Dundee, Gilberts, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Streamwood, and Schaumburg. Programs include English as a Second Language, Basic Reading, Family Literacy, Workplace Literacy, and Summer Youth Tutoring.