Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency that provides basic beginning level to college-level tutoring to individuals 16 years and older. All of our services are free.

Our mission is to improve the lives of participants by enhancing their educational and occupational abilities through increasing their skills in reading, writing, math, and language, and thereby to improve the standards of living in the community.

Besides tutoring sessions and GED classes, we also provide:

• English as a second language classes
• Tutor training for anyone who wants to volunteer with us
• One on One tutoring
• We collect and donate books to worthy causes
• Other local events hat promote literacy and education

You can get an idea of how we change lives and the community for the better by reading Paul & Julia's story in Julia's words. Julia is now a volunteer tutor for us!

It’s important that you know my husband has been at his job now for 26 years.  He was blessed young to receive a good job, without an education.  However please understand, that does not usually happen and surely wouldn’t happen now, in this day and age.

Around February of last year, my husband Paul expressed interest in learning to read and write better and possibly working towards getting his GED.  We were told there were places that would help him with doing that, but he couldn’t take the classes because of his work schedule.  No one could point us in another direction to get help, but I knew there had to be places out there somewhere that could help.  So I searched online.  I finally came across Literacy Volunteers in the Valdosta area, called them, left a message, and got a call back the next week or so.  They put me in touch with Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County. I spoke to Bonnie, and then Paul and I met with her.  He immediately got put with a tutor, and started working towards his goal in April of last year.

            Before Paul started the program, he would call me 6 to 8 times a day from work, sometimes, asking me to help him spell this or that.  He would struggle and give up with things, and he wasn’t comfortable with anything that required reading around anyone.  Since he has started the program he has gone to only calling me about once a week or even less!

            My husband is getting more comfortable doing things around people and at 50 years old, he’s proud of himself, and you can tell!  He is full of confidence and smiling more than ever.

            Recently, I decided it was time to give back to the program that has given and is still giving him so much.  So I started tutoring last September. After all, there’s no better way to say Thank You, than to give back.

            So I encourage you to please give, whether it be financially, volunteering a few hours of your time, or reaching out to those that might need the program.  Your gift is always needed and appreciated.