WELLSVILLE
– The Hope Center here is joining March is National Reading Month activities,
highlighting its free reading assistance for children and adults, including
those with dyslexia, weekly children book giveaways, awareness seminars on
dyslexia and other reading issues, and how churches and other organizations can
join together in true collaborations to do more in their communities with less
cost and efforts. It also is promoting
awareness and use of community libraries throughout Allegany County.
The community outreach, a ministry of the
Mission Genesee Valley coalition of churches and other Christian organizations,
provides reading assistance, drop-in and information and referral services to
Allegany County residents at its facility at 4194 Bolivar Road (State Route 417
West) - #5, next to McDonald's. Services are free. It also is developing a Christian lending
library and provides monthly seminars to help county residents acquire
awareness of different types of life issues that can impact individuals and
families of all backgrounds, along with available resources to address them.
The children's book giveaways will be
held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first three Saturdays, the 7th,
14th and 21st of March. Children must attend in person
and each will be allowed five selections of new and gently-used books. A few adult books also will be available.
On the fourth Saturday, March 28, a
seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to help parents, caregivers and
others recognize symptoms of dyslexia and other reading issues. The Center offers reading assistance for
children and adults, by appointment only, on Saturday mornings and Tuesday
afternoons.
A new seminar also has been scheduled at
two different times, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, and 1:30
p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.
This presentation will combine DVDs and discussion to help equip churches,
government and human services agencies and interested individuals on how to
develop true collaborations that expand resources to address needs of
individuals and families while, at the same time, reducing costs of providing
services.
Advance registration is required for
limited seating for the seminars and may be made with Casey Jones, Hope Center
planning group chair, at bps461@msn.com or (484) 435-0503. Individuals interested in upcoming Hope
Center seminars, workshops, and initiatives can receive advance information by
sending their names, communities of resident and the words “Subscribe - Hope
Center" in the subject line to the same e-mail address.
Information on public libraries
throughout Allegany County, along with their activities and services, is at
www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/publibs/3st.htm.
Subjects at the Hope Center in April will
be drugs and alcohol, in May mental health, and in June a variety of prevention
measures, many attributed to summer safety.
Mission Genesee Valley also will be hosting community prayer gatherings
on the fourth Sundays in March focusing on suicides and in April on drugs and
alcohol. Locations are being determined.
The Hope Center is seeking to partner
with individuals and organizations already involved in these focus areas to
expand public awareness. More
information may be obtained from Jones or at www.facebook.com/HopeCenterAlleganyCounty.
