Monday, August 3, 2009

Literacy Center Joins President Obama’s United We Serve Initiative

The Literacy Center of the County of Tulare Library is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.

In the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, United We Serve seeks to harness the energy and ingenuity of Americans to renew their communities. Throughout the summer, United We Serve will highlight the key challenges facing our nation and the ways that volunteers are providing solutions. During this Education Week, July 27 – August 2, United We Serve will focus on the countless Americans who strengthen communities by rolling up their sleeves to read with a child, volunteer at a library, or organize a book drive.

The Literacy Center is focusing on recruiting volunteer tutors in the rural areas of Tulare County as part of the summer service initiative, which President Obama announced recently.

“This summer, I'm calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation,” said President Obama in the video. “Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

To make it easy for individuals to get involved, Serve.gov was created, a website that allows visitors to type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities. Our Literacy Center’s volunteer opportunities can be found on Serve.gov through a statewide partnership with VolunteerMatch.org. They can also be found directly by visiting http://californialibraries.volunteermatch.org.

“Everyone has something to give, and summer is a great time to get involved,” said Patricia Habeck, Literacy Specialist. By serving this summer, we hope more Tulare County residents will make an ongoing commitment to volunteering throughout the year, whether it’s at our Center or other worthwhile projects in our community.”

The Literacy Center provides free one-on-one tutoring to any Tulare County adult, as well a variety of other literacy focused programs. For further information, please call the Center at (559) 713-2745.