Our mission is to increase literacy in Cattaraugus County through the use of trained and supported volunteers. Services are free, and are aimed to primarily assist adults reading at the lowest literacy levels.
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. 35 years later, we have 2 full-time and 5 part-time paid staff members. For the past 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
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.
LV-CC works with adults age sixteen or older in one to one tutoring situations. Adults reading at or below the fifth grade level are eligible for services.
When a student is referred to or calls Literacy Volunteers, an appointment is scheduled for an interview and assessment. If the student is interested and meets the eligibility requirements, the Learner/Volunteer Coordinator will match the student with a tutor taking into consideration geographic and scheduling needs, as well as interests and personality. Tutors and students decide how often and where they will meet. They are encouraged to meet twice per week in a public location; generally libraries, churches and other community buildings serve as tutoring sites.
Lesson plans are individually designed to meet the specifically stated needs and goals of the learner. Tutors and learners spend a minimum of two hours per week developing basic reading and writing skills, as well as enhanced employment and life skills through techniques such as phonics, sight words, and language experience stories. LV-CC services are provided free of charge to the student.
Individual tutoring is a particularly effective teaching method when working with adults who have been away from the classroom for a period of years, or who have been unsuccessful in group settings, or finally, for those who have adverse feelings toward a school based environment. Additionally, rather than sequential or child-based materials, in a one to one tutoring environment, tutors are able to customize instruction including the use of real life adult materials specifically chosen because of the adult student's stated goals.
For more information, call (716) 372-8627 or email us at olean1@aol.com.
According to the National Institute for Literacy, in New York State (1998) 24% of adults age 16 and older are functionally illiterate. These people may not be able to:
In predominately rural Cattaraugus County,
Falling behind educationally is a key factor in falling behind economically
The benefits of improved literacy include:
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.
While some organizations provide adult education, no other agency works with adults reading at the fifth grade level or below in a one-to-one tutoring situation. This face to face, individualized instruction is what is needed.
For more information, call (716) 372-8627 or email us at olean1@aol.com.
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.
Joann McAndrew, Director
Martha Thompson, Program Director
Ph. (716) 372-8627 | email olean1@aol.com | Fax. (716) 372-8651