- The Helpline matches adult learners with free GED, high school completion, reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. In 2016, staffers individually matched 1,902 adult learners with local classes.
- The Adult Literacy Services Program recruits, trains, places and manages volunteers who tutor adults in reading or ESOL. This program involved 142 volunteers who served 232 adult learners in 2016.
- The Youth Literacy Services Program recruits, trains, places and manages volunteers who tutor youth in reading or ESOL. During the 2015-2016 school year, 231 volunteers tutored 572 children.
- The Paid Volunteer Program provides long-term tutors and classroom aides to local literacy programs. In the last fiscal year,hree PVP tutors instructed 226 adults and 116 children.
- The Book Distribution Project gives new or gently used books to children and families in need. In 2016, Project READ distributed nearly 10,000 books to schools, non-profit organizations, and directly to children and families.
Since 1990, the organization has been located at Sinclair Community College.
Bookstore added
The great news at the moment is that the owners of an local independent bookstore have donated their store to Project READ.
Chip and Sheree Houghton of Springboro opened the Look At A Book store inside the Antiques Village in August 2013. “Our bookstore is a labor of love,” Chip says. “But we are ready to retire and want the bookstore to do some good for the community.”
During the last 10 years, the Houghtons have donated more than 130,000 books to Project READ. With this long history of support, they decided to donate the book store to Friends of Project READ, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to collecting books and raising funds to support the organization.
“We are so thrilled — and grateful — for the tremendous support of Chip and Sheree,” said Laura Mlazovsky, board chair for Friends of Project READ. “The book store will raise thousands of dollars for Project READ’s literacy programs each year.”
Antiques Village’s owner, Dan McGuire, is also supportive of the change and says he’s excited to host a non-profit vendor.
The book store — now called The Bookstore @ Antiques Village — sells both new and used books and volunteers will manage the store. With no expenses for books or staff, 100 percent of book store revenue will support literacy programs in the Miami Valley. If you’re interested in buying books, the book store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. It’s located at 651 Lyons Road in Centerville.
Project READ will accept nearly all books, but these types of books are most in demand:
• Cookbooks
• Gently used kids’ books – especially picture books and all kids’ books between preschool and 4th grade. Many of these books are also donated to schools, community organizations and directly to children in need.
• Recent popular fiction
• Recent romance novels
• Teen books
• History and military history
• Art books
• Textbooks
• Classics
Book donations are accepted at Project READ, located in Building 3 at Sinclair Community College. If you want to deliver your books there, call first and you’ll be met at the curb on Fourth Street. The phone number is (937) 461-7323.
You can also deliver your books directly to the Project READ Book Donation Center, next door to the Antiques Village at 661 Lyons Road, Centerville. Among the other locations where you can drop off new or gently used books are local Starbucks freestanding stores; Danbarry Dollar Saver South near the Dayton Mall and Dayton Beer locations in Kettering and downtown Dayton. For additional drop-off points, see www.project-read.org/programs.
Volunteers are always needed, including those who would enjoy working at the bookstore.
HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY
Columnist Meredith Moss shares information about non-profit organizations in the Miami Valley and their specific needs.
If your group would like to be included, please send information and a wish list to Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com
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