Dollar General Grant Strengthens Adult Literacy in Livingston County

The Livingston County Literacy Coalition (LCLC) is putting a $10,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to work strengthening adult literacy services throughout Livingston County.

The grant supports LCLC’s efforts to recruit, train, and retain volunteer tutors who provide free literacy and English language support to adults who live or work in our community.

For LCLC, investing in tutors means investing directly in adult learners.

Strengthening Adult Literacy in Livingston County Through Volunteer Tutors

Volunteer tutors are at the heart of LCLC’s programs. LCLC has a growing team of volunteers supporting adults through one-to-one tutoring, ESL classroom support, workplace literacy, conversation groups, and digital literacy programming.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation funding is helping LCLC strengthen the systems behind those volunteers—from recruitment and training to instructional resources, mentoring, professional development, and ongoing support.

LCLC’s Tutor Expansion and Retention Program was designed to prepare new tutors to work with adult learners in ESL, basic literacy, workplace literacy, and digital literacy. The initiative also places greater emphasis on what happens after initial training by creating stronger support for tutors as they begin working with learners.

Giving Volunteer Tutors the Tools to Succeed

LCLC has been developing a more comprehensive approach to volunteer tutor training.

Training introduces volunteers to adult learning principles, learner-centered instruction, lesson planning, strategies for Adult Basic Education and English language learners, goal setting, and the tools and resources available to support their tutoring.

Grant funding also supports instructional materials and continued professional development so learning doesn’t end when initial tutor training is complete. The goal is to help volunteers feel confident, prepared, and supported throughout their time with LCLC.

That support matters because every tutor LCLC prepares has the potential to work with multiple adult learners over time.

Building Literacy Skills That Matter in Everyday Life

Adult literacy is about much more than learning to read a book or improving English grammar.

Adults come to LCLC with individual goals. They may want to communicate more confidently at work, understand medical information, write professional emails, speak with their children’s teachers, prepare for citizenship, navigate technology, or simply become more independent in everyday life.

LCLC tutors have already reported meaningful progress among learners—from moving from individual words to complete sentences to improved workplace communication and greater confidence scheduling medical appointments.

These practical accomplishments demonstrate why adult literacy in Livingston County matters to individuals, families, workplaces, and the broader community.

Measuring the Impact

As LCLC expands, the organization is also strengthening how it measures success.

The Tutor Expansion and Retention Program includes tracking tutor participation, matching, and retention while measuring learner progress through individualized SMART goals and, when appropriate, standardized assessments provided through LCLC’s partnership with the Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA).

This approach helps LCLC look beyond the number of people served and better understand whether learners are making meaningful progress toward the goals that brought them to tutoring in the first place.

Thank You, Dollar General Literacy Foundation

Support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is helping LCLC build something that can last beyond a single grant year: a stronger network of trained, supported volunteer tutors equipped to help adults throughout Livingston County reach their goals.

We are grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for recognizing the importance of adult literacy and investing in the volunteers and learners who make this work possible.

Interested in Getting Involved?

LCLC provides free adult literacy services and offers several ways to volunteer. Whether you are interested in becoming a one-to-one tutor, supporting adult ESL classes, or helping with other literacy programs, your time can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

Learn more about LCLC’s programs, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support adult literacy in Livingston County at livingston-literacy.org.