051 Julie Kramer–Adult Literacy Council
Volunteers Teach More Than 1,700 Adults to Read and Succeed Yearly
Julie Kramer is high on the Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC) for its two main goals: Teaching American adults to read and teaching English skills to adult immigrants. Working with classes and through mentoring, nearly 600 volunteers teach more than 1,700 adults each year to read and succeed.
Isolated by the need for a new language, immigrants can turn to NALC for assistance. Becoming more proficient enables newcomers to gain access to the larger community by being able to talk to and understand grocers, doctors, potential employers, and so forth. Learning English allows parents to help their children with school. And the NALC’s citizenship classes facilitate the family’s move toward citizenship.
Not being able to read also isolates thousands of adult Americans. Nearly one in eight Nashville adults can’t read at a functional level. Inability to read labels, complete an application form, comprehend a bill, understand a child’s grade card or homework, and so on limits persons’ economic quality of life and also affects their physical and emotional health and family and social relationships. Depending on others to read is both inefficient and humiliating. NALC classes offer remedial reading for those seeking to enter high school equivalency classes.
Volunteers make the difference. Find out more about the program, apply to volunteer, or check the monthly training schedule at nashvilleliteracy.org or email info@nashvilleliteracy.org.
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050 Betti Lose–VITA Tax Prep
Joyfully Serving the Community—St. Luke’s Community House
Community volunteer, Betti Lose, enjoys a variety of opportunities at St. Luke’s Community House to help the many people served by that organization. In the course of a few weeks, she might do administrative tasks, schedule free Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) sessions, assist a senior citizen playing bingo, or shelve books in the large and inviting preschool library.
St. Luke’s mission is both to help low-income families, seniors, and individuals in West Nashville achieve their potential and to prevent problems that threaten the stability of families and community. The organization works on that mission every day, but January through April they specifically accomplish it by providing free income tax preparation for Nashville area residents with incomes of $64,000 or less. Trained volunteers prepare taxes at no cost to the taxpayer. Refunds are electronically deposited into the client’s bank account. These volunteers work with clients by appointment. Betti schedules those appointments.
More information about this vital VITA program is available at their website www.stlch.org. For more details, call St. Luke’s front office at 615-350-7893. Christie Bearden, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager, can be reached directly at 615-324-8375 or christie.bearden@stlukescommunityhouse.org.
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049 Bill Farris–Habitat for Humanity
From Banker to Builder—Thanks to Habitat for Humanity
Bill Farris is always learning. Each time he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity he learns something—how to swing a hammer, use a saw safely, measure accurately…and it’s fun. He describes a day with Habitat as seeing “ants on crackers”…in other words, a swarm of folks helping to create a home! A retired banker, Bill now thinks of himself as a builder.
“Don’t think you can build a house? Join a Habitat group and see what you can accomplish,” Bill challenges everyone. Not only do volunteers have the opportunity to learn new skills, but also they can use their existing skills, including painting, landscaping, and even clean up, to finish out the construction. Men, women, and older teens can be part of the team, and the time commitment is flexible.
An ecumenical Christian ministry, Habitat for Humanity provides the life-changing opportunity for people to own affordable quality homes. Habitat family members participate in learning about home ownership and then invest “sweat equity” as they work alongside the volunteers. They too are gaining new skills, and they are also acquiring the dignity of seeing what their own work has achieved and an appreciation for the belief in them exhibited by the commitment of so many volunteers. Together, the families and the volunteers create safer neighborhoods for more children and facilitate a pathway of hope for those served.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville builds 32–50 houses a year in a four-county area. With that many homes to build each year, Habitat is always looking for additional construction volunteers. If you are interested in building as a group, or as an individual, please visit their website www.habitatnashville.org for additional information.
Find other episodes in this series at retiretovolunteering.com.
Support this series at patreon.com/volunteering.