Fall Forward, Give Back!

Rend Lake College’s Adult Volunteer Literacy program is looking for new tutors and students.  The Adult Volunteer Literacy program is a grant-funded program through the state of Illinois.  Why is this program needed in the state of Illinois?  Let me share some statistics with you.  In the state of Illinois, about 525,000 residents or 6.3 percent have less than a 9^th grade education. Statistics also show that 2.3 million or 19 percent, of Illinois residents could benefit from adult literacy or English language instruction. Some of these adults are unable to complete a job application, read maps or documents, read a story to their own children, or read instructions for taking medications.

As can be seen, this is a great problem in the state of Illinois. By improving their literacy skills, employment positions are gained, consumer skills are improved, involvement in children’s education is improved, community involvement is increased, and overall wellness and health is improved.

To become a volunteer tutor, you only have to commit an hour a week of your time. Upon completion of training, a volunteer tutor is properly matched with a student they would work well with.  Tutors usually meet with students once or twice a week for an hour to two hours a session.  Tutoring is conducted within the RLC district, which includes, Jefferson, parts of Franklin, Hamilton, and parts of Perry counties. Tutoring sessions are held in public places such as public libraries, on the RLC campus, or the RLC Marketplace in Mt. Vernon.

Why should you become a volunteer tutor? Let me share with you why volunteer tutors will reap rewards from helping someone improve their literacy skills.  Some benefits of being a volunteer are: getting to use your skills and talent, gaining professional experience and contact, helping improve society, and gaining personal growth to name a few.  The two greatest reasons to volunteer with our program is to make a difference in a person’s life and being a selfless individual by forgetting your own problems to help someone else.

If you are anyone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer or if you know someone that would like to receive tutoring, please contact Literacy Specialist, Ali Whittington by phone: 618-437-5321 Ext. 1342 or e-mail: whittingtona@rlc.edu.