YWCA of Westmoreland County

Home
About Us
Online Donations
Site Search
Calendar of Events
Board of Directors
Executive Staff
Classes & Programs
Computer Center
Childcare
Literacy Program
Racial Justice
Thrift Shop
Newsletters
Girls Field Hockey
Building Rental
Employment
Donors
Membership
Comments
Mailing List
Contact Us
Photo Album
PA WORKWEAR
Events

   

Literacy Program

The YWCA Westmoreland County Literacy Program is dedicated to giving adults and their families the opportunity to acquire the literacy skills needed in order to be effective in their roles as members of their families, communities and workplaces.  The YWCA Literacy Program offers free, confidential tutoring in basic reading and writing. We help the non-reader and low-level literacy students develop their reaading and writing skills. Volunteer tutors are trained and work one-on-one with non-reading adults. We also hold English Language Classes.
 
Click HERE to view the English Class Schedule.

Click HERE to send an email to the Literacy Director.

Basic Literacy - teaches reading and writing to non-reading, english speaking adults.  Students are paired up and work one-on-one with a trained, volunteer literacy tutor.  The tutor and student work out a schedule as to when, where and how often they would like to meet.  Call 724-834-9390 for an assessment.

English Language Classes - the teaching of English to foreign speaking adults for use in a setting where English is the primary language.  ESL classes are $20/month per student and open to women and men from all countries. 
Beginning & Low Intermediate English Language Classes are held here at the YWCA Building on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 - 11:30 AM September through May. 
Intermediate/Advanced Classes are held at the Westmoreland County Community College on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 12 noon, September through May. 

Call 724-834-9390 to register for classes.

How Can I Help Support the Literacy Program?

Volunteer Literacy Tutor:  Free tutor training sessions are offered for people interested in becoming literacy tutors.  Tutor training requires approximately 9 hours of training.    After the training is complete, the tutor is paired with a student to work one-on-one.  The next tutor training workshop will be held in April of 2011. Dates to be announced after Christmas. 
 
Donate Books:  The YWCA collects gently used books year round and sells them at the annual used book sale.  Book donations may be dropped off in the book shed at the YWCA office anytime.  Tax donation slips are available at the YWCA office.  Acceptable book donations include paperback and hardback books, children's books, cookbooks, audio books and puzzles.  We CAN NOT accept encyclopedias, magazines, Reader's Digest Condensed Books and/or textbooks.

Work at the Annual Used Book Sale:  Every September the Literacy Program has our Annual Used Book at Westmoreland Mall.  Volunteers are needed to work at the sale checking people out, restocking books and straightening books.  The sale takes place Thursday through Sunday during regular mall hours.  Volunteer shifts are scheduled for three hours at a time.

Book Sorter:  Volunteers are needed to sort through the book donations that are collected throughout the year.  Book sorters meet Wednesdays from 1:00 - 3:00 PM (weather permitting) behind the little strip mall by Agway (call for specific directions).


2010 Annual
Used Book Sale
at Westmoreland Mall
September 23, 24, 25, and 26
Thursday through Saturday during regular Mall hours;
Closes Sunday at 3:00 PM
 
 
______________________________________
.
The Annual Used Book Sale is the main fundraiser for the Literacy Program.  The money raised during the book sale is used to pay for materials and to help provide free services to our students.  There is always a large variety of quality books at the sale. 
The sale is always held the last full weekend in September. 

 


Thank you to the YWCA Board of Directors, Literacy Committee Members, YWCA Staff, Volunteers, and Local Businesses who help to make the sale a wonderful success!