John Wood Community College received a $10,000 grant from Dollar General Literacy Organization to support its literacy program. Specifically, the grant will assist with expansion of the JWCC Literacy program in Brown and Pike Counties.
“I am thrilled that Dollar General has provided JWCC with funding to enhance Literacy programming in the rural areas of the JWCC district. The Literacy staff is looking forward to working with community partners to serve students in the new Mt. Sterling location as well as our Pittsfield Education Center,” Julie Bates, JWCC literacy and volunteer services manager said.
JWCC Literacy program helps people age 16 and older to improve their reading, writing, math or English speaking skills. Students are paired with a trained volunteer to meet once a week. The program provides free training, materials and ongoing support to tutors and their students.
Mt. Sterling’s Dollar General store manager Cindy Wilkerson is pleased that the donations collected by her staff, and many other Dollar General employees in Brown and Pike counties, are returning to help the local community.
“Our staff always asks customers if they are willing to donate their change to support funding for literacy,” Wilkerson said. “It’s nice that customers can see the direct benefit of their generous donations right here in Brown and Pike counties.”
“Literacy is very personal to me,” Wilkerson said. “I had an uncle who couldn’t read because he had to quit school to support his family. Now, that was some time ago, but there are still people out there who could really improve their lives by working with the literacy tutors John Wood provides. This funding will help them, and our communities continue to improve.”
Jack Pool, coordinator of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for Brown and Pike counties, says the new funding can help train more volunteers in both counties.
“We are always looking for people who are willing to give of their time to help someone else, which in turn helps our entire community,” Pool said. “You can make your own schedule and work with your assigned student one-on-one. It is really rewarding. You don’t need a degree, just a high school diploma and the willingness to help another person.”
Contact Pool at 217.641.4146 in Mt. Sterling or 217.641.4274 in Pittsfield to learn more about becoming a literacy volunteer or joining RSVP in Brown or Pike County. He may also be reached at jpool@jwcc.edu.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $81 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 4.7 million individuals take their first steps towards literacy or continued education.
John Wood Community College offers adult literacy programs at four locations throughout the district; JWCC main campus, Kinscherff Adult Education Center in downtown Quincy, Pittsfield Education Center and the new Mt. Sterling Learning Center. Participants are matched with a trained volunteer tutor and meet once a week at a place and time convenient for both.