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Hello Spring!
March 2025
Literacy Delaware Newsletter
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From the Desk of the Executive Director
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Dear Friends of Literacy,
It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Literacy Delaware has lost an unwavering supporter, incredible volunteer, and wonderful friend. On February 10th, Janet Saunders passed away at the vibrant age of 90. You can read about Janet's amazing life in her obituary.
Janet joined Literacy Delaware in 2009, a year after I took the role of Executive Director. She volunteered with a like program in Norristown, PA and immediately sought us out upon her arrival in Delaware. Janet was the rarest of volunteers in that she NEVER said no to a request for assessment help, or an assignment. She donated her time, talent, and treasure. In her 15 years with us she volunteered over 1000 hours working with refugees, teaching math, piloting a business English class, tutoring one-to-one, and teaching classes in person and virtually.
She tirelessly tutored “Maria”, preparing her to take the GED in English (Maria’s first language was Spanish). After countless hours (not included in the 1000) Maria passed all sections of the GED. She and Janet developed a sweet friendship that continued through the years, with Janet continuing to teach Maria to play chess, knit/crochet, even how to play the piano, embodying life-long learning.
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A humble, soft-spoken woman, Janet was a treasured “sounding board” for my new ideas, frustrations, and concerns as Executive Director. We also shared many lovely conversations about our families, especially her grandchildren and my children.
Thank you, Janet, for your selfless service to your community, your energy, enthusiasm, love of teaching, and wisdom. Thank you for believing in me, my ideas and vision for what could be. We will all miss you.
Very Sincerely Yours,
Cindy
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Please make YOUR tax-deductible donation TODAY to support our programming.
Our learners can't do it without YOU!
www.literacydelaware.org/donate or P.O. Box 2083 Wilmington, DE 19899
Thank you!
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NOW IS THE TIME TO GRAB YOUR FRIENDS AND GET YOUR TICKETS FOR SCRABBLE ™ ALONG THE BRANDYWINE 2025!
Literacy Delaware’s annual team SCRABBLE fundraising event, SCRABBLE Along the Brandywine, is coming soon! We can’t wait for YOU and your team to join us for an evening of FUN!
Friday March 28, 2025 - 5:30 pm
Christ Church Christiana Hundred
505 Buck Road
Wilmington, DE 19807
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Tickets are $50 per person. Entry fee includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine. Teams consisting of up to 6 players receive the same set of SCRABBLE™ tiles and work collaboratively to build the highest scoring board for each of 3 rounds. You can purchase tiles to complete those high scoring words and/or peek in the dictionary to verify word spelling. The highest scoring teams (cumulatively) will be recognized. There will be beautifully themed raffle baskets to win. Bring cash or checks; credit cards also accepted.
Proceeds will be used to support reducing our learner waiting list.
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DoMore24 2025 - Thank You!
Thank you so much to everyone who donated to help support our adult literacy learners during Delaware’s Day of Giving, DoMore24 2025, earlier this month.
We greatly appreciate your support of our programming.
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Practicing Medical Terms Helped Guadalupe When She Needed It! | |
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Guadalupe‘s goal was to be able to have her children’s doctor visits in English. So she and her tutor Jean met online each week and practiced medical terms.
Several months later, Guadalupe had to run to the Urgent Care center where there was no Spanish translator available. Instead, she had to use her English to tell the doctors and nurses about her children's sickness. Guadalupe explained her children’s sneezing, high temperatures, sore throats, and how tired they were. The doctor told Guadalupe her children had the flu.
When Guadalupe was leaving the doctor’s office, she thought “Thank you, Jean, for helping me practice my vocabulary.”
After this confidence building experience, Guadalupe had to make a medical appointment for herself. Though the Spanish interpreter was out that day, Guadalupe was able to make her appointment in English.
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New Learner Testing
We are always striving to serve more adult basic reading and literacy learners! Towards this end, we have been conducting in-person learner testing events in various locations to help reduce our waiting list and get those in need on their way to improving their literacy skills.
Thanks to staff, our AmeriCorps team, and two wonderful volunteer tutors Ann Grewal and Janet Saunders, we tested 139 learners in the Wilmington Library, Bear Library, Dover Library, and a community center in Lewes to determine their skill level. These learners are now ready to be matched with tutors.
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Learner Accomplishments - In Their Own Words
Learners in AmeriCorps Member Serap’s class reflected on the goals they have reached:
Learner M: I changed jobs. I am reading to my children and I am helping my children with their homework.
Learner K: I got a training or education certification. I am studying for my board exam. I am taking an online class/course other than this class. I spoke in English with my doctor/my child's teacher without help of an interpreter. I watched a show in English.
Learner R: I am reading to my children/I am helping my children with their homework. I am reading English books as a hobby. I watched a show in English.
Learner T: I got a raise at my job. I am reading to my children. I am helping my children with their homework.
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Learner Photos
We love to share success stories about our wonderful adult literacy learners to show the impact of your work. Many of these stories are accompanied by photos of actual learners.
We have decided not to include photos of any of our learners to ensure everyone’s safety and security due to current executive orders and policies.
Literacy is a human right regardless of ethnicity, race, documentation status, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and economic status.
Thank you for your understanding.
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Prefer to write a check to support
our work? No problem.
You can mail your donation to:
Literacy Delaware P.O. Box 2083 Wilmington, DE 19899
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We Want to Hear from YOU!
There are many reasons adult literacy is important. We hope that by reading how our wonderful learners have positively impacted their lives through improving their literacy skills in our program, you have gained a better understanding of this importance.
We would love to hear from YOU! Please use this link to share your thoughts on why YOU believe in our mission to uplift the lives of our fellow Delawareans. Your insights are invaluable, and we plan to highlight some of your comments in the future.
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Martin Luther King Service Day Event
The Literacy Delaware AmeriCorps team honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during an afternoon of service reading to students at Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy. Participant Melissa said of the work, "Through the Snow We Go, Spreading Literacy to Help Minds Grow”.
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Please donate to help us reach more of our fellow Delawareans in need.
Thank you!
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Literacy Delaware, Inc.
P.O. Box 2083
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