About Us
Literacy Volunteers
Serving Adults
Since 1982, Literacy Volunteers has served functionally illiterate adults in Northern Delaware. Originally called Literacy Volunteers of America, we became Literacy Volunteers Serving Adults/Northern Delaware in 2003 and now operate as an independent nonprofit organization. We are a recognized affiliate of ProLiteracy Worldwide (Syracuse, NY), which provides us with the resources and connections available through this national literacy program. In addition, we are accredited by the Delaware Department of Education.
Our Programs
LVSA serves in several ways. We use trained volunteer tutors to offer free programs in:
- One-to-one tutoring in basic reading and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL)" conversational English
- Family literacy with ESL parents and children in small groups
- Adult literacy group instruction at our Adult Literacy Learning Center
- English Literacy/Civics classes offer an opportunity to learn about American culture while practicing English literacy skills.
We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a small professional staff. Volunteers provide the lion’s share of our services as tutors and committee members. Since only one-third of our budget is funded by grants from the Delaware Department of Education, we rely heavily on individuals, foundations, and corporations for support.
Our Locations
LVSA Headquarters and Administrative Offices are located in the Wilmington Public Library at 10th and Market Streets in Wilmington, Delaware. The entrance is off King Street.
The Family Literacy Program and Adult Literacy Learning Center is located in the Woodlawn Library, in (Room 111) at the corner of Bancroft Parkway and West 9th Street in Wilmington, Delaware.
Tutor Training is conducted at various community locations throughout New Castle County, Delaware. See our Tutor Training page for information on upcoming training sessions.
Our Vision
That all adults in Northern New Castle County, Delaware, will have the skills necessary to more fully participate in the lives of their families and their communities.
Our Mission
To empower adults and their families in Northern New Castle County, Delaware, to function more effectively in their daily lives and communities by improving their literacy skills through free, student-oriented, one-to-one and group instruction in basic reading and conversational English.
Our Sponsors
We are an affiliate of ProLiteracy America and the United Way of Delaware. In addition, we are partially funded by the Delaware Department of Education. We are grateful for the additional support we have received from individual donors and the following organizations:
- American Life Insurance Company
- AstraZeneca
- Christ Church Christiana Hundred
- Commerce Bank
- Crestlea Foundation, Inc.
- Corporation Service Company (CSC) Employees
- Delaware Association of Adult Continuing Education
- Delmarva Power
- Dollar General Literacy Foundation
- DuPont
- Endo Pharmaceuticals
- Fund for Women
- Laffey McHugh Foundation
- Rotary Club of Wilmington
- Speer Trust
- State of Delaware
- United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania
- United Way of Lehigh Valley
- Welfare Foundation
- Wilmington Flower Market
- Learn how your organization can be an LVSA Sponsor
Meet Our Staff
Cynthia E. Shermeyer
Executive Director
302-658-5624
c.shermeyer@verizon.net
Alyssa Almond
Student/Tutor Coordinator
302-658-5624
studentandtutor@verizon.net
Jennifer Bachman-Lopez
Family Literacy/Adult Literacy Learning Center Coordinator
302-658-5382
wlmngtnlearning@aol.com
Gretchen Elhassani
LVSA Administrative Assistant
302-658-5624
litvolunteers@aol.com
Meet Our Board
Arthur W. Ritchie Susan McGrath Reading ASSIST Institute Richard Wheeler Sherry Hoffman Diane Bates George Brown |
Brett Cherry Patrick Francis Morris Victoria M. Novak Deborah Pyle Cary Brandenberger Riches |