Reading volunteers needed for literacy program

The issue of literacy in the Ozarks and what Ozarks Technical Community College, the Ozarks Literacy Council and RSVP are doing to improve it now and in the future will be the topic of an upcoming meeting.

Representatives from OTC, the Literacy Council and RSVP’s Reading Buddy Program will discuss literacy in the Ozarks at a community awareness meeting July 21 at 7 p.m. at The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.

The three organizations, which serve the needs of children through adults, will address how their organizations are working to improve the literacy skills of local residents and how the local business, faith and service communities can make an impact by volunteering to help with their offered programs.

“Since there are implications for our community, we are asking businesses, churches, and organizations to come learn how they can help by volunteering through one of these organizations,” said Ramona George, director of OTC’s Adult Education and Literacy program.

“There is a growing demand for the community to provide literacy services. We would like for local groups and businesses to become aware of how they can help as well as benefit from their experience.”

RSVP works with children who need reading practice at their school site while the Literacy Council works one-on-one with children and adults outside of school hours.

OTC works with students enrolled in the Adult Education and Literacy classes that stress math, reading and language arts as well as English as a Second Language.

All of the three organizations provide free training for prospective volunteers and emphasize that teachers are not the only people who can be literacy volunteers.

A small business owner can often explain why being able to perform various mathematical calculations is important; a bank teller can be a reading buddy and a bookkeeper can be a great conversation partner.

“We are all committed to finding a great match for that person who volunteers,” George said.

For more information, contact Dana Owens of the Ozarks Literacy Council at 895-5635.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of media relations at Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.