Welcome to the 11th annual Reach a Reader edition of the Tribune.
Throughout various articles in this paper, we highlight the importance of literacy — whether it be first-hand accounts from those who are working to achieve their literary goals, programs available in Williams Lake, or information on computer or financial literacy. The importance of literacy is far reaching — lack of literacy affects all aspects of life, as one article explains. It assists us in raising children, beginning and keeping a job, and even taking medications.
Helping those who lack literacy skills requires many volunteers and programs, such as Partner Assisted Learning that is available to adults in Williams Lake.
Without programs like this and the many dedicated volunteer tutors who keep it going, people like Nancy Balfour (see story, page A5) would feel they were “not good enough” and couldn’t obtain a job they could be proud of.
Reading helps us perform daily tasks like reading street signs, looking up important numbers in the phone book, and understanding ingredients on a bag of bread. It also teaches us about the world we live in, about ourselves, and helps us make important decisions for our future.
Literacy does matter, and it’s never too early or too late to learn. If you know someone who is missing out on the joys of literacy — reading, financial, or computer — please help him or her to remember that there is help available.
If you purchased this copy of the Tribune on the street from a volunteer as part of the Reach-a-Reader campaign, your donation goes to Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy to help raise literacy awareness and to help support its programs.
Thank you for your donation, and thanks to CCPL and its volunteers for the tireless work they do for the community.
