In 1969, Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County (LV-CC) began with a few volunteers from Olean and Portville. They worked out of the trunks of their cars and met in their homes. Nearly 40 years later, we have 2 full-time and 5 part-time paid staff members. For over 20 years, we have been housed in the Olean Public Library and are grateful for their generous hospitality. We currently have 25 active learner/tutor pairs.
LV-CC also supports these activities that help to change lives through literacy
- Family Literacy activities with Olean Housing Authority
- Workforce Investment Act partnership with BOCES
- Mardi Gras
- Scrabble® Challenge with JCC
- Peer tutoring at Salamanca Schools
- English for Speakers of Other Languages tutoring
- Annual Tour of Interesting Homes
However, our most important activity will always be arranging free, confidential one-to-one tutoring for adults.
As a result of the tutoring provided by LV-CC in any given year, ten to twenty percent of the student population get or upgrade their employment and about eight percent stop receiving public assistance. Other learner successes include increased and more fluent oral communication, improved writing abilities, voting, increased confidence, participation in community activities and reading to their children.
LV-CC's volunteer tutorial program has proven itself as cost effective and most importantly, successful. One learner said it all, “My children are so proud of me. I keep doing this to show them that it can be done!”
From reading labels and directions to reading to their children, LV-CC tutors help students live a better life.
If you would like to be a part of changing peoples' lives and believe literacy is a fundamental component of this effort, please call (716) 372-8627 or email us at olean1@aol.com.
Literacy Volunteers - Cattaraugus County is a 35 year-old, private, not-for-profit United Way organization committed to helping adults and families achieve their literacy goals. We receive about two-thirds of our budget through grants and the remaining we secure through local contributions.