Each week, Meredith Moss writes about the non-profit organizations in our community and their specific needs. If you have a wish list you would like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com
Please include a daytime phone number. Meredith and this column have been honored with the first “Friend of Philanthropy Award” from the Association of Fund-raising Professionals.
The Brunner Literacy Center is making a difference in many lives by providing free, one-on-one tutoring to those over the age of 19 who want to improve their reading, writing, or math skills. The big news is that in addition to the cozy headquarters on Salem Avenue, over the next few months the folks from the BLC will also bring literacy instruction to other areas in the Miami Valley that have strong need of educational opportunities.
Celine O’Neill, the Center’s executive director says making that first call for help is often the hardest part for adults. But, she says, once they’ve taking that first step they’ll find the support they need to continue.
“Potential students love hearing that our services are free,” says receptionist Pat Gill, who takes many of those important first calls. “I also tell them that the placement test we give at their intake interview is not a ‘pass-fail’ kind of test, but just a means of knowing where we need to start to help them. When they ask what they need to bring with them for the intake, I tell them to just bring a smile and a howdy-do!”
Located on Salem Avenue since 2011, the center is now reaching out and partnering with organizations that have special need of literacy development. Starting on Nov. 1, the group will work with Catholic Social Services at 1046 Brown St. to provide ESOL instruction to refugees who have come to Dayton to make a better life for themselves and their families. In January, the BLC will open a second site with Catholic Social Services at 922 Riverview Ave. to provide adult basic education instruction to clients of the food pantry at that location.
“We depend heavily on the contributions of friends and supporters who allow us to use our limited funds for program needs and materials,” says O’Neill. “That need is increasing with our opening up of additional sites at Catholic Social Services to increase the literacy of their food pantry clients and refugees to the U.S.”
The Center is also working with the Day Reporting Center of the Bennett J. Cooper Re-Entry Center Complex at 1901 S. Gettysburg Ave. to bring literacy skills to offenders who are residents or visitors. “Literacy can mean the difference between offenders getting their lives on track or falling back into criminal behaviors,” O’Neill says. “According to a 2013 study from the United States Department of Justice, inmates who participate in educational programs have a 43 percent lower recidivism rate than those who do not.”
The BLC seeks tutors for all four locations — Salem Ave., Brown St., Riverview Ave., and Gettysburg Ave.
Here are the supplies they need at the moment:
- Reams of white printer paper
- Individually wrapped chocolates and hard candies
- RTA bus tokens
- Backpacks
- White three-ring binders
- Wide-ruled spiral notebooks
- No. 2 pencils
- Paper clips
- Staples
- Cans of coffee
- Paper cups
- Paper towels and/or napkins
- Antibacterial kitchen wipes
- Windex
Goods may be dropped off at 4825 Salem Ave. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Other ways to help
On Saturday, Oct. 29, The Brunner Literacy Center will hold its fourth annual 5k walk/run for literacy at Englewood Metro Park on Saturday, Oct. 29. More information can be found at www.brunnerliteracy.org/5k-2016.
On Nov. 29 millions of people around the world donate much-needed funds to their preferred charities. You can give to the Brunner Center by visiting www.brunnerliteracy.org/giving-tuesday
Volunteers needed for Book Fair Foundation Sale
Ohio’s largest used book sale, hosted annually by Dayton’s Book Fair Foundation, is slated for Nov. 10 -14 at the Coliseum Building at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Proceeds this time around will benefit FilmDayton, K12 Gallery & TEJAS and the Learning Tree Farm.
As you can imagine, the sale requires lots of volunteers who price, sort and pack up the books at the “Book Loft,” 2181 Embury Park in Dayton. If you’re available to help out, check out the Foundation’s website at www.daytonbookfair.com or call (937) 999-4491.
“We’re still madly processing books to get them all finished in time,” says the group’s Larkin Vonalt. “We particularly would love to have groups looking for service projects to come help us on the Wednesday before the sale (Nov. 9) and the last day of the sale, Monday, Nov. 14.”
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