Literacy group seeks volunteers
Submitted by The Literacy Connection
September is National Literacy Month. Did you know that 63 million American adults, 29 percent of the country’s adult population age 16 and older do not read well enough to understand a newspaper story written at the eighth-grade level? Locally, one in five adults is at the lowest level of literacy.
The Literacy Connection needs your help. Participate in events throughout September to support local literacy efforts. Join us by becoming a volunteer tutor, learn more about serving on our board, or enjoy a meal at one or more local eateries throughout September to help us raise funds.
Each year hundreds of people come to The Literacy Connection with a desire to improve their reading ability or English language skills, including native English speakers with low literacy skills and those who speak English as a Second Language. You can change someone’s life for the better by becoming an adult literacy tutor. With consistent one-on-one or small group tutoring one to two times per week, our students demonstrate progress with their English abilities. They are learning how to read their medical prescriptions, better comprehending their children’s school notes, and many progress further in their jobs with the English skills and confidence they acquire with the help of their tutors. Several achieve the ultimate by earning their citizenship.
Join us for a free tutor orientation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Salvation Army Service Center in Carpentersville, 150 S. Kennedy Drive, Suite 8B. The Service Center is behind Meadowdale Mall, across from the Classic Cinemas Movie Theatres. Consider this life-changing opportunity where you can truly make a difference in someone’s life.
Plan a lunch or dinner date at local restaurants to support our four fundraisers this month. Colonial Café, Nick’s Pizza and Pub, and In The Neighborhood Deli and Café, all in Elgin, as well as Culver’s in Carpentersville, are making donations to our cause based on event sales. Check out the website at www.elginliteracy.org for dates and times to see how you can support us by simply enjoying a meal, Proceeds from dining events directly support our adult and family literacy programs. We kickoff with our first fundraiser Thursday, Sept. 6, at Colonial Café in Elgin, next to the Elgin Community College entrance on McLean. Enjoy dinner, dessert or both between 4:30 and 10 p.m., and tell the cashier you are dining to support The Literacy Connection.
The Literacy Connection, an affiliate of ProLiteracy, serves 16 communities in the Elgin area — 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. Learn more about The Literacy Connection and other upcoming orientations and events at www.elginliteracy.org, email info@elginliteracy.org, or call (847) 742-6565.