Help fight illiteracy

To the editor: These days we take our ability to read for granted. Imagine for a moment what kind of life you would be living if you were unable to read. Illiteracy is one area where we can and do make a big difference - and we do it one student at a time. Our students are a “lamp to be lighted” and a contribution to light a lamp is a symbol of commitment to alleviating illiteracy. Our plea to you is to help us go out of business by making sure ALL of our friends and neighbors are literate. This is, and has always been, our goal! Our program covers a 1,275 square mile area with no public transportation. Our volunteers currently serve over 150 students on a one-to-one basis. We serve, without charge, those adults with no reading skills, limited skills, limited knowledge of English, and those wishing to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma (GED). We also have programs in both the Wayne and Pike County jails which are aimed at allowing for a smooth transition back to society. We are supported, in part, by the state and the county, but we still fall far short of our actual program costs. We must rely on fundraising in order to be sure that we are able to help all those who ask for our services. If you would like to be a “lamplighter”, you can call our Honesdale office at 570-253-3221 or in Milford 570-296-3567. You can also mail your donation to: Wayne Pike Adult Literacy Program (WPALP) 1406 N. Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. Together, we can brighten the future for our students and our community. Annette Petry Wayne-Pike Adult Literacy Shohola