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Hope Center Planning Group members enjoy some of the
children's books that will be given away Saturday, November 30, at its
Wellsville facility in conjunction with a holidays effort to highlight its
ongoing free reading assistance ministry for children and adults. From left are Denise Regan, Anita Baird
Jones, and reading tutors Robert Stern and Kate Rulison.
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WELLSVILLE -- The Hope Center here will be providing free
books for children, including some for adults, to promote reading during the
holidays and its free tutoring ministry during an open house on Saturday,
November 30.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Allegany County community outreach facility at 4194 Bolivar Road (State Route
417 West) - Suite 5, Wellsville, next to McDonald's.
Casey Jones, Hope Center Planning Group chair, said new and
gently used books will be provided on a first come, first served basis, with
each child able to choose two hardcover or softcover versions. A limited number of adult books also will be
available. Children and adults must select books in person.
The outreach, A Hub of Hope of Allegany County Churches
ministry of the Mission Genesee Valley coalition of churches and other
Christian organizations, also provides Saturday drop-in and information and
referral services, and educational offerings each month for individuals and
families, along with churches, on how to meet basic needs within the county and
beyond. A Christian lending library also
is being developed.
Reading assistance for children and adults, including those
struggling with dyslexia, is provided by appointment only during the Center's
regular open hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, along with 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
on Tuesdays. Additional hours are anticipated
as the organization's volunteer base increases.
This type of help has been identified as being a major need
for both children and adults within Allegany County, Jones said, with good
reading skills being important not only for general education and obtaining
better paying jobs but for social interaction, quality family time, and various
other skills.
Appointments will be made during the open house for reading
assessments and interested individuals will be able to find out more about how
to become a volunteer for reading assistance, information and referral
services, library, community outreach, education and other opportunities. The Hope Center also is seeking ambassadors
which require no specific time commitment to assist.
Information also will be available on December education
offerings, including Grief Share Surviving the Holidays, Divorce Care Surviving
the Holidays, and Help Grieving Children seminars for adults who are struggling
with grief due to the death of a loved one, separation or divorce, and
assistance for children of all ages who experience many types of losses,
including deaths, parental discord, moving, separation from friends and family,
and more. Jones said many of these
situations may have occurred years ago but resulting trauma still deprives
individuals from experiencing joy during the holidays.
Further information about the Hope Center is
available at
www.facebook.com/HopeCenterAlleganyCounty, bps461@msn.com or (484)
435-0503. The facility is handicapped
accessible
