Tri-County Literacy Volunteers

The mission of Tri-County Literacy Volunteers is to improve lives through improved literacy. Approximately 15% of Maine’s population has below basic literacy skills. Our organization is on the front line of trying to change that startling statistic. Our Literacy Volunteers program is working with adults who are already experiencing the challenges of low literacy, and our Read With Me Family Literacy Project works on the opposite end of the spectrum, striving to help our most vulnerable citizens avoid the challenges of poor literacy.

Description:
Tri-County Literacy is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve lives through improved literacy. An affiliate of Literacy Volunteers of Maine and Pro-Literacy Worldwide, we serve our local communities through a no-cost one-to-one tutoring program for adult non-readers or low-level readers and through a family literacy program. Only our adult literacy programs utilize volunteers. Literacy Volunteers tutors provide one-on-one and/or small group tutoring to help adults acquire the basic reading, writing, and math skills they need to enhance their lives and achieve their personal goals. These services, which are free and confidential, take place at libraries or other community locations. Our Literacy Volunteers program serves adults who wish to improve their reading, writing, comprehension, math and literacy-based life skills. Targeted populations include non-readers, low-level readers, individuals working toward a GED, and those for whom English is a secondary language. Among our targeted populations are several vulnerable special populations, including adults who are developmentally disabled, homeless or incarcerated.

History:
Three formerly separate entities merged to form Tri-County Literacy. Literacy Volunteers of Bath was started in 1970, later changing its name to Literacy Volunteers of Greater Bath and Lincoln County. Literacy Volunteers of Casco Bay was started in 1982, and Read With Me Family Literacy Project was established in 1995. In 2003, the two Literacy Volunteers programs merged to form Tri-County Literacy Volunteers. Read With Me Family Literacy Project became a formal part of Tri-County Literacy in 2004.

Contact people:

Darlene Marciniak, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Suzanne Gastaldo, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (207) 443-6384

Address:

2 Sheridan Road Bath, ME 04530 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.tricountyliteracy.org

Directions:

Take the Congress Avenue/Richardson Street exit off Route 1 in Bath. Turn right at the end of the exit ramp. Take your first right onto Congress Avenue. Go approximately ¾ mile to the stop sign. Turn right onto. . . (more)

Last updated on January 19, 2010