FC LIFE March 2018

Thanks to our volunteers who participated in our Literacy Coalition program on the "Adult Essay Contest." It was an inspiring experience for everyone. Also, we give thanks to the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County for their cooperation and assistance.

Members of Frenchman’s Creek (pictured below at the morning and afternoon session) volunteered to read essays submitted for the annual “Adult Student Essay Contest” sponsored by the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. (One in seven adults in Palm Beach County is unable to read and understand information found in books and newspapers.) This is the second year Frenchman’s Creek has participated as “readers” for the essay contest. Jeanne Heavilin, Manager of the “Building Better Readers” program brought about 150 essays written by adults in the County’s adult reading classes. Our task was to read the essays and respond with positive and encouraging comments. When one of our members spotted a really good essay, it was usually shared with everyone around the table. The topic for this year’s essay was “Write a Letter to Yourself When You Were Younger.” The essays varied. Many essays used past experiences as the basis for future advice. One essay “wowed” us all with its futuristic creativity: We all hope that essay will be selected as one of the essays read at the Annual Literacy Luncheon.

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County offers several programs in our local elementary schools and there are many volunteer opportunities for adults also. If you are interested in learning more about them, please leave a message with the POA Office and someone from the Volunteer Match Program Committee will contact you.

Thanks to the Chairpersons of this volunteer program event: Louise Albert, Peter Berkley, Judy Jaffe and Elaine Miller. Nancy Berkley

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