By Literacy Volunteers Chippewa Valley Staff
Literacy Volunteers Chippewa Valley (LVCV) partnered with literacy agencies across Wisconsin to recruit and train 755 volunteer tutors during Wisconsin Literacy’s 12th annual 1200 Tutors in 12 Weeks campaign, which ended on Dec. 1.
The LVCV organization trained 13 volunteer tutors during this year’s effort. The campaign, which began on Sept.8, enables Wisconsin citizens to give the gift of literacy to other adults in their communities, according to LVCV.
“Tutoring is a tremendously rewarding way to volunteer,” said Michele Erikson, executive director at Wisconsin Literacy. “Tutors have a chance to help local families through education, and our English language tutors meet new immigrants from all over the world.”
A recent survey completed by Wisconsin Literacy’s member agencies showed that volunteer tutors provided 280,533 hours of service to 13,368 adult learners at community-based literacy agencies in Wisconsin last year.
LVCV provided direct services to 456 adults through 163 volunteer tutors last year. However, Literacy Volunteers currently has a waiting list of adult learners, especially in Dunn County.
“There is still a great need for new tutors. Our agencies train new tutors periodically, so we encourage anyone who can give two or three hours a week helping people with their basic literacy or English language skills to contact their nearest literacy agency,” Erikson said.
To help give the gift of literacy to a community member, contact Literacy Volunteers Chippewa Valley at 715-834-0222 or info@lvcv.org.
This year’s campaign to train volunteer tutors was sponsored by Alliant Energy Foundation, American Family Insurance, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and the Green Bay Packers Foundation.