In celebration of literacy’s power to open doors to opportunity, Literacy Volunteers of the NRV will host an “Open Sidewalk” event on June 24, which is GiveLocalNRV, a community giving day coordinated by the Community Foundation of the NRV.
Current and prospective volunteers, students, supporters, and community partners are invited to stop by and learn about opportunities to engage with LVNRV to promote independence through literacy. In consideration of health and safety recommendations, LVNRV representatives will greet guests from a table set up in front of the learning center, located at 195 West Main Street in downtown Christiansburg.
Curbside pick up of books and teaching materials will be available; free children's books will be distributed; potential learners and volunteers can ask questions and sign up; and donors may support the organization’s life-changing work by helping to meet their $5,000 GiveLocalNRV goal to achieve a $5,000 match.
All guests will receive a free candle -- because "literacy is a light out of darkness."
The event, which is rain or shine, will be held 10 am--2 pm.
“We are so grateful for our dedicated tutors and learners who have ensured that learning continues during the pandemic by implementing creative distance education strategies, and we are very excited to host this Open Door event to connect face-to-face with current and future partners and clients,” said Linda Jilk, Executive Director.
LVNRV, a United Way partner agency, provides free instruction -- in reading, writing, math, basic computer skills, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), and assistance preparing for exams such as the GED, U.S. Citizenship test, and driver’s license -- to help adults achieve their goals. LVNRV also provides family literacy programming to help parents learn to read to their children and support their children’s education.
More than 24,000 New River Valley adults read at or below Level 1, which indicates these adults struggle to read brief texts on familiar topics. More than 38,000 local adults have Level 1 basic math skills -- for example, these adults struggle with solving a one-step problem involving counting or percents.
“Our community needs us now more than ever due to the pandemic’s upending of our economy,” said Jilk. “Our neighbors need new literacy, language, and digital skills to understand critical health information, to access community resources, to obtain basic skills or a GED to secure employment, to perform on-line job search, to help their children with homework, and to participate in this new virtual world.”
For more information about the Open Sidewalk Event on June 24 or LVNRV’s services, please email info@lvnrv.org, visit www.lvnrv.org, or call (540) 382-7262.
