Literacy program asks for help as adult learners wait

By Frances Ruth Harris
MILFORD — Sandy LeFort, vice president of the Wayne-Pike Adult Literacy Board of Directors, sent out 165 letters just before Thanksgiving asking for money.

The chapter serves 40 adults learning to read from volunteer tutors. LeFort said there's a waiting list of 10 to 15 adults who've requested help. Some are native speakers who have never learned to read, while others are learning English as a second language. Some of the adult students are pursuing high school equivalency diplomas.

The current director of the Wayne-Pike chapter, David Sutton, helped formulate the solicitation letters. The chapter and its small staff receive no state funds and survive through donations and grants.

Many of the volunteer tutors are retired teachers who serve prison programs along with the adults who come to local libraries for tutoring. The chapter's main office is on the third floor of the Wayne Library in Honesdale. Pike County is a satellite branch and offers tutoring at the Pike County Library.

The volunteers work hard to answer the needs of every student, said LeFort said.

Annette Petry, board president, has worked for Wayne-Pike Adult Literacy for 17 years. A former teacher at Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, N.Y., also tutors four students.

"My whole heart is in this work," she said.

For more information visit wpalp.org.