At Literacy Volunteers of Fauquier County (LVFC) we like to let our students ten our story. Here is Nancy's story:
I am thirty-eight years old. I'm just saying what comes to mind o.k. I am trying to learn to do something with my life besides staying home all day. I have two kids. The oldest is 10 years old, the other is five years old. The oldest will be going to school this year, and Debbie has been very good about coming to teach me these things I been wanting to learn. I'd like to get out and go to work, that's what I'd like to do. I can't go to work. I can't stand on my leg long. I'm lost for words now. God bless you.
We find Nancy's story to be the story of many people in our county. Whether their need is to learn English, learn to read, learn computer skills or obtain their GED, LVFC's mission is to help these adults reach their goal. In addition to our three longrunning ESL classes in the Plains and Warrenton, we recently opened two new classes at the John Marshall and Bealeton Libraries. We are soon hoping to offer a mobile ESL lab program to those in our community with transportation issues.
GED and ABE (Adult Basic Education) instruction is accomplished through one-to-one tutoring sessions. A student is assessed to determine their education/ skill level. and then matched with a trained tutor. These student/tutor pairs often meet for months or even
years as they work together to meet the student's goals.
Literacy Volunteers currently has 30+ active volunteers serving more than 150 students. Many classes are held at our new office on Keith Street in Warrenton. Co-located with the Workplace, Fauquier's One-stop employment center, LVFC is able to work with clients to improve skills and increase their marketability. Two part-time paid staff people are available to the public during regular business hours; Executive Director Virginia (Ginger) Hllleary has been with LVFC since February, and Office Assistant Marc Mountjoy. Anyone visiting Fauquier County during the month of December will see these two, as well as volunteers and member of our Board of Directors, "ringing the bens for Literacy," in front of the ABC store and the Warrenton Food Lion.
Written by: Ginger Hilleary
Published: December 2004