VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Garage Sale Nets Funds and Friends for Literacy Suffolk
Maybe it was just beginner’s luck: but Literacy Suffolk’s first Garage Sale, held on May 22 at the Sons of Norway lodge in St. James, was a big success. Not only did our organization raise over $2,600 to support tutors and students, the event increased Literacy Suffolk’s visibility throughout the county through Facebook posts, newspaper stories, and calendar listings. .
As a result during the sale, we recruited five new tutors and another person to help at future events. Other shoppers, when they learned of Literacy Suffolk’s important mission, expressed support and paid more than we were asking for items.
Literacy Suffolk Treasurer Karen Olsen-Helmold, who organized the event, also noted that we helped a soon-to-be-mother with limited resources by giving her baby items that did not sell, and we did the environment a small favor by finding new owners for electronic devices, housewares, books (which were free), and decorative items that might have ended up in a landfill.
The organization’s overall “profit” from the sale was boosted by a 50/50 raffle that our president, Loretta Piscatella, won. Generously, she donated her winnings back to Literacy Suffolk. Equally generous, the Sons of Norway donated the use of their space for the entire weekend to Literacy Suffolk, and several of their members donated items for the sale, as well as their time to help us prepare and promote the sale.
Literacy Suffolk Celebrates Its Tutors and Other Volunteers
The personal rewards of being a Literacy Suffolk tutor are nearly as varied as the volunteers themselves.
For Mary Ellen Smith of Holbrook, a retired pediatric ICU nurse, tutoring was a way to become a teacher like her mother without having to stand up in front of a class.... {click to read more}
Upcoming Events
upcoming events
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events!
Congratulations New Citizen Marvin Avendano!
"I want to say thank you Tracy, and the rest of the folks at Literacy Suffolk. You have given me the opportunity to learn and prepare to become a citizen. Being able to work with Lucille has given me the chance to not only learn English but to study for my citizenship test for the last two years, along with everything else I was learning. I feel like it was easier for me to be prepared for the test because of this. I am lucky because I found the program in the library because I didn't have any idea when I came to the U.S about how I was going to learn English. I used to go to the library to get answers to my questions about how to make my life better here for my son and myself. It was at the library that someone told me about Literacy Suffolk. I give thanks for this program for helping me to become a citizen; and for being able to learn more about life in the United States. Literacy Suffolk introduced to me a good teacher who now feels like a friend who has not only taught me English but helps me to learn what I have to do concerning other things in this culture. I really enjoyed the Oath Ceremony. The judge told stories about his life and his family coming to this country from Italy. He told us that he is the first judge in the family. He spoke about how his grandfather would have been amazed because his grandfather came to this country with very little. Also, the judge had invited a 92 year old veteran to be at the ceremony. This veteran also came from another country and wanted to welcome new citizens. The judge told us how his father had fought for this country too. I felt so great when we said the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. When the ceremony was done, I saw my boss, his son and Lucille were there. It felt so great that they came to support me. I felt so proud to have my picture taken in front of the flag now that I am a new citizen of this country. Thank you again for everything."
Marvin Avendano
About Us
Our Mission
Our Staff & Volunteers
Our Mission
Literacy Suffolk, Inc. effects countywide change by improving adult literacy through trained volunteers, expanding community awareness, and providing literacy to all adults...
Our History
Our Staff & Volunteers
Our Mission
Founded in 1978 by the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS), Literacy Suffolk is an accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America and an affiliate of Literacy New York
Board of Directors
Our Staff & Volunteers
Our Staff & Volunteers
Loretta Piscatella, President
Karen Olsen-Helmold, Treasurer Megan Millevoy, Secretary
Our Staff & Volunteers
Our Staff & Volunteers
Our Staff & Volunteers
Executive Director
Christine Moriarty
Finance Director
Kathy Corazza
Program Services Coordinator
Brieanne Ost-Krasnicki
Program Services Coordinator
Tracy Speelman
Program Services Coordinator
Marylou Krzeski
Administrative Volunteer
