Eastern Shore Literacy Council

The Eastern Shore Literacy Council has been greatly affected by the helpful support of the United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.  Their responsibility to community well-being, through investing in literacy programs and projects supports our mission to empower residents of the Eastern Shore of Virginia through competence in basic literacy, to more fully and confidently participate in our community as well as succeed at higher levels of education and/or employment.

United Way support of literacy has translated into real changes in the lives of local adults.  For example, a former learner is now a small business owner. Our learners have gone on to enroll in  GED or college level classes at Eastern Shore Community College or have advanced in their jobs.   When the Literacy Council became a Local Program Partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library the United Way was there to support the “High Five” project.  At the age of five, registered children receive their last book from the Imagination Library.  With support from United Way the past two years, the Eastern Shore Literacy Council has mailed books to 275 children who have graduated from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, adding one additional book to their home library.

Everyday changes are made possible by United Way investing in literacy.

The Eastern Shore Literacy Council is very thankful for the United Way’s partnership. Their commitment and support allow the Literacy Council to continue providing basic services to help local adults reading and writing at the lowest literacy levels with no cost one-on-one tutoring and to local children as they begin their reading journey and grow up with books.     

Since 2010, we Eastern Shore Literacy Council been the recipients of about $65,000 from community campaign and community impact funds, which has been used for many literacy programs and initiatives.