|
Debbie Stone and Alejandro Zamudio |
What’s Happening at the Library?
January 13, 2016
Santa Paula News
By Debbie Stone
Let me tell you about a valuable part of my life here in Santa Paula. After we moved here from NY in 2013 I wondered: what am I going to do with my time? How can I help someone and perhaps get involved in the community
I read about the Adult Literacy Program at Blanchard Community Library, but I thought I probably couldn’t participate because I didn’t know any Spanish. However, the students all speak English quite clearly but they want to learn to read and write more effectively.
So, I met Alejandro -- a young man in his 30’s who has 3 children, a good job, and a wife who also works. But he wanted to be able to read to his children and help them with their homework. So he called the library and waited for a tutor to be available. And he waited....and waited....
Finally I was available and we were matched up; we are spending 2 hours a week at the library with a study book practicing his reading and writing. He is so excited about it he can barely contain his enthusiasm!
Yesterday at our session he gave me a card with a note inside which said: “Thanks Debbie for spending your value time with me and I happy to have a person that helps me to practice my English. I hope there are more people like you that help people like me.” My heart was so touched...no gift could be better than that.
There’s a LONG waiting list - tutors are desperately needed. YOU can make a huge impact in someone’s life with just 2 hours a week of your time. Some students are striving for their GED, some want a better job, others want to read the newspaper and learn about the country they value so much because of the opportunities it has afforded them.
If you can offer your time please call Wendy Batstone at 805-525-3615 X105, or email her at wendy.batstone@blanchardlibrary.org.
It’s a rewarding way to give back to your community and to someone who wants to participate more fully in life.
