Become A VOLUNTEER
and Change Lives through Literacy
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Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County (LVSSC) is a member of ProLiteracy, a national non-profit organization. We believe that the ability to speak, read, and write English is critical to achieving personal freedom, enhancing personal economic well-being, and fostering a democratic society. Our focus is to help adults in our communties improve their abilities to speak, read, and write English at no charge to them and with their privacy respected at all times.
We need volunteers in many capacities to achieve our mission:
Prior teaching experience or knowledge of a language other than English is not required.
In your initial training, you'll receive a copy of the tutoring guidebook, LitStart: Strategies for Adult Literacy and ESL Tutors. This book provides the strategies and background necessary to tutor an adult in the skills of reading, writing, and speaking English. It explains the goal setting and lesson planning process in a simple, straight-forward way, and provides guidance on tutoring both English as a Second Language (ESL) and Basic Adult Literacy (reading and writing) for English-speakers. Further training is offered in Tutor Chats on Zoom and Volunteer Online Resources below. Recommended ESL and Basic Literacy student books and teacher manuals are available for tutors to check out in our office in the Venice Library and our office in the North Port Library.

Apply HERE
to be a Volunteer
New volunteers ask, "How much time is required?"
It is recommended that tutors meet with their adult students 1 to 1 1/2 hours twice per week. However, this may not be possible. Each tutor and their adult student sets up a schedule that works for them to meet in a public place…usually one of the Sarasota County Libraries in Venice, North Port, or Englewood. Online reporting makes it easy for tutors to report their volunteer hours and their student's achievements.
BE A VOLUNTEER
Volunteers help in many ways besides tutoring……
Literacy Volunteers invite you to become a member and contribute your services. Without volunteers and financial help, we cannot complete our important mission.
There are other ways of volunteering that are just as significant as tutoring, such as, interpreting the native language of foreign born residents or assessing student literacy. Administrative, financial, computer, and fundraising expertise is also needed. Why not help with the newsletter, data entry, tech support, record-keeping, or grant writing?
By becoming a member of Literacy Volunteers, you will help other South Sarasota County residents achieve
life-enriching goals such as:
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getting a job
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getting a promotion or better job
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communicating with their doctors and nurses
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being able to speak to their child's teacher
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writing a letter to a friend
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becoming a citizen of the USA
Would you like to discuss a tutoring issue with a mentor?
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Contact one of the Coordinators at either Venice or North Port Libraries.
Karen Bridegam, North Port, 941-861-1320, north.port.literacy@gmail.com
Peter Norrman, Venice, 941-861-1352, venice.literacy@gmail.com
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Tell the Coordinator briefly about the issue you would like to discuss with a tutor mentor. They will ask an experienced tutor to get in touch with you. Mentors are tutors who are willing to help other tutors.