Midcoast Literacy, a non-profit that provides free literacy tutoring to people of all ages, is holding a training session in February for new volunteer tutors who want to work with local children. Midcoast Literacy serves individuals in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, and northern Cumberland counties, and is seeking volunteers who line in any of these communities. More Maine children than ever before are struggling to read at grade level, and the need for new volunteer tutorswho can meet with a child twice-a-week is significant. 

“We tutor all year round and always have new learners enrolling in our programs,” says Katie Clark, program director. “If you or someone you know can give two hours a week to help a child read better, there is a real need in our area. By tutoring a child twice a week after school, you can make a tremendous difference in a young student’s life.”

Midcoast Literacy’s3-day training will prepare volunteers to become tutors in their Read Together program for children ages 7-14.The training will be held at their offices at 9 Park Street in Bath onFeb. 9, 11, and 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Midcoast Literacy tutors may work with English language learning children, or with children who speak English but are struggling readers. For more information or to sign-up, contact Katie Clark at k.clark@midcoastliteracy.org. 

Pre-registration and participation in all three days of the training is requiredto become a volunteer tutor. Volunteer tutors must be at least 18 years old and make an initial commitment to tutor once or twice a weekfor 12 months (with occasional breaks for vacations or holidays).

“When I retired, it took me a while to figure out what to do with myself,” says volunteer tutor Steve Majercik. “Now I tutor twice a week,and our meetings are one of the highlights of my week. My learner is enthusiastic, inquisitive, and always ready to work. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to get to know this young person and to read and write with him.” 

Midcoast Literacy is a non-profit organization based in Bath that has been providing free literacy programs to people of all ages in Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and northern Cumberland counties since 1970. You can find out more about all their programs at www.midcoastliteracy.org.