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BUCKHANNON -- Want to be a literacy tutor? Maybe math is more your thing? What about teaching computer classes? Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County has a need for all those at this time.
There are four students awaiting a tutor and one of them needs help in math. The other three are literacy students.
Kristy Stewart, director, briefed Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur members on happenings with the organization which has seen many changes in the last few years.
"I started with Literacy Volunteers under Linda Feola as her VISTA," she said. "I was a VISTA and VISTA leader. We've had a rough few years since Linda left," Stewart said. "She left some big shoes to fill."
After a series of director changes, Stewart decided to apply to be the director and was hired. Then came news that Holy Rosary Catholic Church needed the Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County to vacate their building so it could pursue other uses for the site.
"Thanks to the generosity of Skip Gjolberg at St. Joseph's Hospital, we have a home now," she said.
It was a short move for the center to 88 West Main St. from its home on Franklin Street to continue focusing on its mission.
Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County serves 15 literacy students at this time and eight English as a Second Language students, but could add for more students if tutors are found.
The math tutor will be a hard position to fill, according to Stewart.
"No one wants to do math -- me included," she joked.
In addition, a computer class tutor is needed.
"If you know of anyone interested, please point them in our direction," she said.
Tutors set their own schedule with their student and it may be a two-hour commitment a week - an hour for tutoring and an hour for prep work.
Want to help but think tutoring is not for you?
"We have 25 auxiliary volunteers but participation is down a little," she said. "We are looking for new auxiliary volunteers."
Auxiliary volunteers help with fundraisers such as the book sale or raffles, assist with office tasks, donate items or fill other needs.
A Service Scholar from Wesleyan provides some assistance and the center is a West Virginia Works site through the DHHR.
"We still have a VISTA, Rachel Strawder," she said.
Another partnership formed in recent years has been that of Opportunity House. Its director, Matthew Kerner, serves on the board for Literacy.
"Opportunity House is the muscle behind Literacy," Stewart said. "We couldn't get our book sale done without the muscle from those guys. They are great."
Other partnerships include Wesleyan, Christmas Store and the Parish House.
"What a lot of people don't know is that we operate completely on grants, fundraisers and donations," she said. "We receive no state or federal funding. Every dollar that comes in, we work for."
Grant funding is limited at times because the center focuses on adult-based education and most grants are for children's programs.
Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County works with students ages 16 and up, not enrolled in the public school system.
Grants also are usually for specific programs or items and not for operating costs, but that doesn't mean that Literacy Volunteers doesn't pursue grant funding.
One example is a 2018 $8,000 Dollar General Literacy Foundation which enabled the center to purchase sensory learning tools for diverse learners including iPads, tablets and more kinetic, hands-on tools for students.
Another $2,000 grant from Walmart this year will pay for life skills workshops being coordinated by Strawder. The classes will teach basic car maintenance, sewing skills and other tasks that many people take for granted but some people don't know how to do.
"We are trying to help our community better themselves," she said.
People need to be able to read at a certain level to pass the driving test and most of the students cannot drive. A student in his 70s let his driver's license lapse due to cataracts, but now that his vision is better he can't pass the test and came to Literacy Volunteers for help.
"It's really difficult for him because he has about a first-grade reading level," she said. "We are trying to help advocate for him because he has a clean driving record. It's something we don't think about until we are faced with it."
To volunteer, call 304-472-2343 or email literacy.volunteers.upshur.co@gmail.com.