Literacy Network to mark 10 years

Parade, games and free books will highlight 10th anniversary celebration

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff | Wednesday, September 26, 2007

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RAPID CITY -- The Literacy Network is planning a party Saturday, Sept. 29, to celebrate 10 years of helping adults and children discover the satisfaction and joy of reading.

The Network is a grassroots organization that grew from the realization that Rapid City needed a resource to connect people with others who could help them improve their literacy. The original organizers were Bonita Ley, Doris Marie Strom and Judy Olson Duhamel.

Since its beginnings, the Literacy Network has survived thanks to the generosity of the community, Ley said.

"We have no money," Ley said. "We started with nothing, and most of the time, we're working with nothing."

Projects such as Saturday's celebration are funded through donations of labor, materials and money. Donated books are sold during an annual book sale to help fund the purchase of books and other materials.

The anniversary celebration begins at 10 a.m. with a Literacy Parade beginning at the Literacy Network office in the Rushmore Mall, in the J.C. Penney Court. Students are invited to dress as their favorite book characters and join in.

After the parade, several area people and organizations will be honored for their support of the Literacy Network over the past 10 years.

Students and their families are encouraged to stay after the parade or drop by during the afternoon to enjoy several activities taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the J.C. Penney Court.

Activities planned include face painting, balloon tying, a book walk with books as prizes, and volunteers reading stories. Volunteers are needed to read books Saturday. To volunteer, contact the Literacy Network at 394-5454.

As a fundraiser for the Literacy Network, there will be opportunities to paint ceramics or try sand decorating.

Students in grades two through six also will receive a free book.

As it was 10 years ago, the Literacy Network continues as a volunteer program offering free assistance to adults and children seeking help with reading, writing and math. The office is used by Literacy Council of the Black Hills tutors and Literacy Network volunteers.

"We pull people from all areas of the community who volunteer," Ley said. Over the years, more than 65 people have been trained as literacy tutors.

"If it wasn't for the community, we wouldn't exist," she said.

Volunteers provide information about learning differences, how to earn a General Equivalency Diploma and obtaining U.S. citizenship.

Network volunteers also can connect tutors with people for whom English is a second language.

They also provide short-term assessment and tutoring for school-age children as well as helping with vision referrals.

The Literacy Network, which operates without any major funding source, depends upon community donations and fundraising events to supply free books that are distributed to children and adults striving to improve their literacy.

The network's office is stocked with state and national literacy materials.

For more information about the Literacy Network, call Elsie Kephart at 394-5454 or Ley at 348-4126.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com