Archer Daniels Midland Grant Supports Volunteer Recruitment and Training

Archer Daniels Midland Company recently donated $1,500 to East Central Area Literacy Council. The donation will go toward the volunteer tutor training program. The East Central Area Literacy Council will use the grant funds to recruit and train volunteers to work with adults in the East Central College Adult Education and Literacy program. The AEL program coordinated by ECC serves students who are learning English, need to complete their high school education, or prepare for college or career changes. The Literacy Council also provides tutors for individuals who do not know how to read. Tutoring sessions are available at local libraries as well as AEL classrooms.

”Volunteer tutors are key to the success of our students who are learning to read and for immigrants to learn English. The individual attention and support provided to our students is invaluable,” said Alice Whalen, Executive Director from East Central Area Literacy Council.

The East Central Area Literacy Council began in November 2010 as a volunteer board of directors and assists the ECC Adult Education and Literacy program by recruiting and training volunteer tutors, raising awareness of the issues of illiteracy in the counties served, and receiving donations to purchase training materials, instructional materials, or other needs of the program. In addition to Whalen, other members of the Literacy Council include Steven Campbell, Diane Crowder, Diana Watkins, Gregory Gelles, Jackie Gilliam, Janece Martin, Jean Craft, Joan Morris, Kathryn Whyte, and Dan Woodward.

Two volunteer training sessions will be held in Rolla on Thursday, December 15, 2016 for individuals interested in becoming volunteer tutors. The first will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at First Baptist Church of Rolla at 801 N. Cedar St. and another session in the evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Central College in Rolla on Forum Dr. Call 573-719-1323 for session locations and to register as a volunteer. The literacy council also needs volunteers to serve on its board of directors.

The donation was given through ADM Cares. ADM Cares is a social investment program that directs funds to initiatives and organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide. The program comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture, improving the quality of life in ADM communities and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities.

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Executive Director, East Central Area Literacy Council Director, East Central College Adult Education and Literacy