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Future of Literacy Volunteers in doubt; may close in 6 months

4 mins read
Becky
Becky Jasch, director of Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties, looks over the nonprofit’s financial records at the office in the adult learning center on the Mt Blue Campus. If donations don’t come in, the 39-year-old agency will  have to close.

FARMINGTON – A stalwart of the community that has helped thousands of people learn to read for nearly 40 years may be closing its doors due to a lack of funding.

The 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.

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

But budget constraints have left the nonprofit agency struggling to make it through the next few months, said Becky Jasch, the agency’s director.

“We have been barely surviving on a shoestring budget for years and have found we cannot continue on this way for very much longer, despite the desperate need for our services,” she said. If nothing is done, the agency will close within six months.

The ability to read is critical to being able to earn a liveable wage, to get a driver’s license, to reach his or her full potential, Jasch said.

The local literacy volunteer’s annual operating budget has been cut back to $25,000, but this year the organization started off the year with $19,000. The $6,000 deficit has left the board of directors with little hope that costs will be met in order to keep Literacy Volunteers running.

To help raise money, an annual book sale was held in May, which raised $3,000 this year. A yard sale held in June raised another $800.

“It (the yard sale) was disappointing; so much work went into it,” Jasch said.

At this point, unless donations from the community come in to help keep it running, Literacy Volunteers will close.

To discuss the agency’s situation and to find out how to help, an open house-style public forum will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Literacy Volunteer’s headquarters at the adult learning center on the Mt Blue Campus. Packets of information about the organization will be available for the public to pick up.

“We’re going to do an introduction on what the current situation is and we’ll be asking what’s the need and how can we best address that need,” Jasch said.

She’s hoping for a good turn out on Saturday where ideas for keeping Literacy Volunteers going and in what direction can be shared. For more information call 778-3460, ext 2023.

For those who can’t attend the forum but would like to send 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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15 Comments

  1. It’s interesting that recently their was much debate about the addition of a new park. A generous $74,000 donation was made to ensure its existence because as a community it was important that people driving through Farmington were greeted by a place of beauty. Plaques have been suggested to be installed educating the community about the historical significance of the area/school that once occupied the sight.
    Now the community is faced with the potential of loosing an organization that helps others learn to read.
    Maybe the true measure of a communities beauty is an educated one-people who can not only enjoy a beautiful park but be able to read the name to whom it was dedicated?

  2. I’m a literacy volunteers tutor. I found the orientation and training I received before meeting my first student…….was a real eye opener into the issues this region has and the severe challenges faced by the students seeking our help.

    I can tell you every single one of my students was from this county and every single one had faced extreme hardships in life. I hope I’m not hurting any of their feelings by saying bluntly (because I think the community really needs to KNOW): every single one of my students had faced extreme abuse and neglect in their formative years. They had in so many ways not received appropriate physical care ,emotional care, nutritional care, or educational care at important junctures in their lives.

    My students happened to be adults (though LVA assists children/minors as well). As adults they were stuck, struggling to find work, support themselves and their families. They were creative, funny, insightful, curious, smart. They really, really, really wanted to improve their education, improve their lives and employment opportunities thru it.

    I think this community needs to understand that these folks are among us. You may not realize someone is struggling to get that GED, fill out a job application, get their shopping done because they are hiding their difficulties with the skills needed.

    Another valuable aspect of the LVA tutor/student dynamic is mentorship. Sometimes you meet your student and they just need someone to talk to. My students had all the smarts, everything they needed to get where they wanted to go in life….they just didn’t have the self confidence and the mentors to cheer them along thru their struggles. My students had, sadly, more than their fair share of people and circumstances in their lives telling them “You will fail. You can’t do it”. I found that to be my number one job as a LVA tutor, to plant the seeds of ” You can succeed. You can do it”

    I hope the residents of Franklin County will take this matter seriously.

  3. Excellent point by JTWhite and the Captain. We do not need a park…. we need to help the residents of this area that are truly struggling ….of which there are many.

  4. hi
    I am a student, volunteer, and i help with a group call New Books New Read.
    This Program has help the people all around us here in Franklin county and other counties.
    I think helping out a good group will help out you, family, and your friend.
    This group has helped me learn to read and write. This has all so help me make new friend and go places I would of not been able to see in my life like Oklahoma,New Mexico, and Washington DC.
    I went to learn how to help the people who can not read or write.
    We need to help this program. Because it has help people that are in your town.
    You did not now that needed owe help reading.
    I thank them for being there when I need it.

  5. My taxes increased almost 20% in two years primarily due to fund the school system. Yet our community is no more educated than it ever was. Our school system should take upon itself to educate these people with the increased resources we have given them.

  6. This situation is very sad for the two counties as well as for all the potential students. Literacy volunteers are incredible people and the program is absolutely needed here. Many do not understand that they are not supported by the local school departments but rather through government grants (which are drying up), donations, and their own fund raising efforts such as the book fair and yard sale mentioned in the story above. Having said all this and having worked in tandem with literacy volunteers in the past, my conclusion is that we should be taking a hard look at where we donate to “charitable” causes. A great need is right here in our own backyard.

  7. Isn’t it public knowledge that the local philanthropist don’t have to give anything to anyone?
    They could just keep every cent for themselves.

    There is simply something wrong with anyone who would criticize them doing it.
    I suppose “your” problem with them is that they “prove” that everyone isn’t bad like you “see it”.
    Making your dark view of everything even weirder.

    Tell you what,,,
    I’ll give $20 so you can buy enough gas to ride around and blow some of that stink off of you.

    There are many different needs,,,,
    Thanks so much for the givers who do what they can to help.
    Whether it be the volunteer teachers or some wealthy person who donates critical funding.
    It all helps.
    THANK YOU ALL.

  8. Why couldn’t this be something the University of Maine at Farmington took on? It has the state’s premier teacher education program, has countless students who no doubt could volunteer time and effort, and has as part of its mission a commitment to public service. Seems like a natural fit. Has anyone approached them yet?

  9. The Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers who meet monthly and also put in many hours of their time organizing and working at fund raisers like the book sale and yard sale. Becky could answer the question about the budget better than I can but I do know part of the money is used to pay for 3 part time staff who go above and beyond the few hours a week they are getting paid for. In addition to the tutors there are many more who donate money on an individual basis and their time helping at the book sale. Right now I think getting new board members is as important as finding new sources of funding. It takes energy, fresh ideas, planning and organizing to keep a volunteer organization running. When a few people are trying to do it all, they run out of steam. If we could get the board back up to 12 – 15 members it would make it an easier for everyone. It is a worthwhile organization and it used to be a fun group to work with.

  10. We all need to help this organization and keep it going. Reading is one of the most effective tool we have as far as getting a job and maintaining a family. Those of us who can read are fortunate. How about those people that can’t read! Imagine what they have to do through! Let’s make reading fun for everyone. We all know there is nothing like reading a good book. Let’s do something about this situation. We all can donate what we can and we don’t even have to ice-bucket ourselves.

  11. Stamps, gas, paper and pencils aren’t free! Volunteers does not mean dilettantes. There is a need for people to educate tutors. Like any non-profit some money needs to be spent to run a program.

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