Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / July 25, 1991, edition 1 / Page 13
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J under the sun THE BRUNSWKXfttlACON THURSDAY, JUIY 25, 1991 VISTAs Help Spread Message Of Hope, Garner Support For Literacy Effort HY SUSAN USUKR i^? ? As VISTA volunteers with the Brunswick County Literacy Council, Lila Millctt, Brenda Grissctt and Edith Brulgcr face a big challenge: spread ing word about the council's services and helping estab lish a solid base of financial support for its future. VISTA is the acronym for Volunteers In Service To America, the federal government's domestic equivalent of the Peace Corps. Volunteers make a one-year, full time commitment to servicc, aimed at improving the quality of life for residents of their assigned communi ty. In turn, VISTAs receive a "subsistence" allowance, insurance and ongoing training. The three locally-rccruitcd volunteers working w ith BCLC are "essentially outreach workers." said Gladys Wagcnscil, program coordinator for the council. "They !c!! our story, recruit volunteers and seek referrals of adults who want to learn to read and write." They also help coordinate fund-raising events and special events carried out by other council volunteers. Their task isn't to replace other council volunteers; in fact it's just the opposite. One of their goals is to secure the network of re sources that supports the work of the literacy council, leaving it larger and stronger at the end of their one year stint than it was when they came. The most challenging and sometimes frustrating part of their assignment, all three agreed in a recent in terview, is reaching the council's target clients? adults and older teens with little or no reading and/or writing ability who want to improve their skills. Most clients ask for a tutor after learning about the council from someone who can read and who encour ages them to leam ? another literacy student, a family member, a caseworker, their pastor, someone at work. The council offers free tutoring and protects the confidentiality of its students. Its services offer an alter native to those who are uncomfortable with a classroom setting, lack confidence in their abilities or otherwise need one-on-onc attention. It has tutors trained to work with non-English speaking students as well. Much of the VISTAs' day-to-day contact is with community leaders in civic groups, churches, town halls, servicc agencies and industries ? people who can pass on information about the free services available through the literacy council. ? Millctt is assigned to the middle section of the county, Ms. Bridger to the northern end and Ms. Grissctt to the western end. Within that broad area each has targeted specific communities for outreach efforts. Recently several have teamed up to go door-to-door in specific neighborhoods, something Ms. Wagcnscil expects they'll be doing more of in the coming weeks. Each VISTA brings to the year-long posting a con cern for the welfare of others and a unique set of talents and experiences. Lila Millctt, a former employee of Lower Cape Fear Hospice, s wcikcd "liotli sides of the fence" ? as a volunteer and as someone who supervises volunteers. As a former co-chairman of the literacy council, she , . . . STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER VISTAs (from left) Edith Bridger, Brenda Grissett and lAla Millett have a mission: Building a stronger Brunswick County Literacy Council b\ sharing its message of hope and opportunity with the public. knew first-hand of the agcncy's needs and iis work. "1 fell il was an area where 1 could fill a need," she said. "If 1 can find jusl one person who learns how to read it is worth il." One of her current projects is coordinating volun teers involved in staging the council's second annual Bee for Literacy adult spelling bee, a fund-raising and public awareness event. The VISTAs have also coordinated a hook and plant sale and arc working with the council's Calabash satel lite group on an upcoming canister drive. Volunteers will be stationed at food stores counlywidc Aug. 2 and 3 to solicit contributions to the council. Edith Bridgcr is a retired librarian, most recently employed as manager of the West Brunswick Branch Library in Shallotte. After serving for several years on the advisory hoard of the literacy council, she saw the move from librarian to literacy volunteer as a natural transition. "It's still reading," she said. In her previous job she worked with those who could read, many of whom were avid readers. Now she works on behalf of those who arc beginning to read, just realizing the power and opportunities that knowl edge affords. Brenda Grissett, who lives in Ash, had worked 17 years as a Head Start preschool teacher and thought serving as a VISTA would be "a great way to work with people, to help them." Like many of the people she's made contact with since starting as a VISTA in April, she really wasn't fa miliar with the BCLC before a friend called her atten tion to the VISTA opening. "1 knew about the literacy council, but I didn't real ly understand how it works," she said. "I didn't realize just how worthwhile a cause it is." Since taking on the job, she says she's had "some pretty good experiences" as she tells others about the council in the Thomasboro, Longwood and Ash areas and is enthused about the council's ministry. The more people she and the other VISTAs contact, the more non-readers the council can reach with its message of hope that they, too, can learn to read and change their lives for the better. Want to help? Contact the BCLC at 754-READ. "Good service, good coverage, good price - That's State Farm insurance DWIGHT FLANAGAN Phone 754-9923 y Jet. Hwy. I7&2U - po Box 78 jym i Supply. NC 28462 ~ * L/fce a good neighbor. 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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July 25, 1991, edition 1
13
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