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Community responds to Literacy Volunteers plea for help to keep it running

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FARMINGTON – Just three weeks ago, the local nonprofit agency that has helped countless adults learn to read was at death’s door due to deep funding cuts.

Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties, 129 Seamon Road, Suite 1, Farmington
Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties is located in the Adult Learning Center on the Mt. Blue Campus in Farmington.

But once the word got out about the dire situation Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties was facing, the community responded big time.

Donations came in, and volunteers stepped forward to form a new board of directors intent on keeping the agency going, said Becky Jasch, the agency’s director.

A professional grant writer has also volunteered to help find funding for the agency.

“It’s a complete turnaround,” Jasch said of the future of Literacy Volunteers.

A new board was appointed at the annual meeting held on Oct. 16. Donations tallied so far will allow the agency to continue its 40-year legacy of helping adults learn to read at least through next year.

In a story posted here on Sept. 29, Jasch said the Literacy Volunteers board figured it had at most six months left before having to close its doors for good due to lack of funding.

The annual operating budget that had been cut back in previous years to $25,000, started this year off with $19,000. While a book sale and yard sale to benefit the agency netted $3,800, it still wasn’t enough to keep the program running past the projected six months.

Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties has been helping local adults learn to read since it was established in a partnership with Franklin County Adult Basic Education in 1975.

As of now, 86 trained volunteer tutors work individually with those living in the two-county area who want to learn to read. They teach basic language skills so adults who may have missed the opportunity to learn to read get a second chance.

Jasch said she is excited that their mission can continue, thanks to the generous support of so many.

“The response from the community has saved us for another year,” she said.

New board members and officers elected are: chairperson, Ken Lust; vice chairperson, David Olson; secretary, Jane Haszko and treasurer, Sally Spiech.

Volunteers acknowledged at the meeting for their years of service are: 30 years, Nona Young; 25 years, Sarah Carpenter, Diane Lee; 20 years, Sharron Cornell, Rose Marie Henderson; 15 years, Eve Ellis, Anstiss Morrill, Claire Muese; 10 years, Jane Deely, Diane Dicranian; 5 years, Dot Keller, Cindie Norton and Craigen Healy.

To find out more about Literacy Volunteers, call 778-3460, ext 2023. For those who would like to help, donations can be sent to: Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties, 129 Seamon Road, Suite 1, Farmington, ME 04938.

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3 Comments

  1. I agree–Literacy Volunteers is exactly the kind of organization that United Way should be funding in a major way–not with the few hundred dollars they have doled out during the past two years. Thank you to Ms. Jasch and the community for helping to save Lit Vol!

  2. I’m impressed- good show Franklin County…. also maybe this will stir up interest in some of the reasons why members of our community are not acquiring the support and skills at home and in our local schools.

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