Local program aims to help adults read

After Russ Raymour retired from his job, he and his wife, Carole, began searching for an organization in which they could volunteer their time. "We wanted to give back to the community,' said Raymour, who retired as a packaging engineer with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Mo. The Raymours had visited Grand Haven before and fell in love with the area, and decided to retire in Grand Haven. They both have an interest in literacy, so they began looking for a literacy program in Ottawa County.

Len Painter

Grand Haven

Sep 16, 2011

In 2008, the Raymours contacted then-Loutit District Library Director Sandie Knes and asked her if there was an adult literacy program in need of volunteers.

Sherry Mitchell separately asked Knes the same question. Nancy Carlyle, on her own, asked the same question of Claire Sheridan, director of Spring Lake District Library. They were told that there wasn’t an existing program in Northwest Ottawa County.

Knes brought the three together and discussions began on forming an organization in this area.

The Raymours, Mitchell and Carlyle in early 2009 launched the R.E.A.D. (Reading Enables Adult Development) program. The Northwest Ottawa County-based organization now offers one-on-one tutoring to adults who have difficulty reading.

For more information on R.E.A.D., call 843-1470 or e-mail info@readadultliteracy.org.

Online:
www.readadultliteracy.org

To read more of this story, see today's edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.