Get Involved
Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. More than 300 community members give their time every year, serving as tutors, joining our board and committees, and offering their skills in a variety of other ways.
Our main need is for tutors. We pair tutors with students, based on their needs and areas of interest. Then a tutor works one-on-one, helping a student reach his/her goals.
Besides tutoring, there are other ways to volunteer, including marketing, fundraising, finance, governance, and office support. Please visit our Other Ways to Volunteer section to learn more.
Monthly Volunteer Timesheet
Begin by completing the application form below.
Once we have received your application, we’ll add you to our list for the next tutor training. Training is offered in the spring and fall in Bangor and winter in Ellsworth. The training includes an introduction plus 12 hours of content training over the course of five weeks, a workbook, and materials. For more information about the training, go to Training Schedule.
After your training, we will pair you with a student whose needs align with your abilities and interests. We do our best to create learning pairs that will thrive.
Tutoring requires about 1-2 hours a week. You will meet with your student one-on-one, and help him or her work towards their goals. Examples of goals might be receiving a high school diploma, obtaining a driver’s licence, securing a better job, voting for the first time, reading to children, or becoming a U.S citizen.
Many people think that tutoring requires teaching experience or the ability to speak another language. But it requires neither. All you need is the desire to help someone.
Apply Today
To become a tutor, please fill out the application form below. We will use the information to notify you of our next scheduled training.
Once you have submitted your application, we will be in touch within 1-2 weeks.
To get started as a volunteer, you may do one of the following:
- Download and complete our Volunteer Application and email it to us at info@LVBangor.org
- Contact us at (207) 947-8451 and we’ll mail you a paper version.
Print out the form, complete it, and hand deliver or mail it to:
Literacy Volunteers of Bangor
354 Hogan Road
Bangor, Maine 04401
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Tutor Trainings
All tutors receive orientation and training, which are typically offered twice annually. Due to COVID-19, we have altered our training format from in-person classroom training to a combination of online, self-paced learning modules and synchronous Zoom sessions.
Volunteers can choose one of two tracks: Basic Literacy or English Language Learning.
Basic Literacy Tutor Training
Helping an adult improve his or her reading does not require an education degree. It does require patience, flexibility, and the desire to help transform an adult’s life through literacy. As a result of social distancing, we are looking for volunteer tutors that are comfortable teaching and supporting a student remotely using technology (i.e., phone, text, email, Skype or Zoom).
The training certification provides teaching strategies, adult learning models, information on learning disabilities, and lesson planning. The training content is delivered via self-paced, online learning modules as well as classroom sessions via Zoom.
English Language Learning Tutor Training
Teaching a person to speak and read English doesn’t require that you know their language. You just need the patience and desire to teach language, reading skills and cultural differences. As a result of social distancing, we are looking for volunteer tutors that are comfortable teaching and supporting a student remotely using technology (i.e., phone, text, email, Skype or Zoom).
This training certification covers second language acquisition, working with cultural differences, and teaching methods. The training content is delivered via self-paced, online learning modules as well as classroom sessions via Zoom.
Training Schedules
To view or download a complete schedule for Fall 2020 New Tutor Training and more information about the online training modules can be found in the downloadable training schedule. For key dates, please see the calendar below.
2020 Basic Literacy Training Schedule
| Date | Session | Format |
| by October 7th | ProLiteracy Online Course Volunteering in a Literacy Program | asynchronous; approximately 2 hours |
| Wednesday, October 7th from 6 – 7:30 PM | Volunteer Orientation | via Zoom |
| October 7 – November 18 | ProLiteracy Online Course Basic Literacy Tutor Training | asynchronous; approximately 10-14 hours |
| Wednesday, October 21 from 6 – 7:30 PM | The Connection Between Literacy & Poverty with Mary Marin Taylor | via Zoom |
| Wednesday, October 28 from 6 – 7:30 PM | Learning Differences & Learning Disabilities with Claire Levesque | via Zoom |
| Wednesday, November 18 from 6 – 7:30 PM | Training Wrap-Up | via Zoom |
2020 English Language Training Schedule
| Date | Session | Format |
| by October 7th | ProLiteracy Online Course Volunteering in a Literacy Program | asynchronous; approximately 2 hours |
| Wednesday, October 7th from 6 – 7:30 PM | Volunteer Orientation | via Zoom |
| October 7 – November 18 | ProLiteracy Online Course ESL Tutor Training | asynchronous; approximately 10-14 hours |
| Wednesday, October 21 from 6 – 7:30 PM | Profiles of English Language Learners with Nancy Connor | via Zoom |
| Wednesday, October 28 from 6 – 7:30 PM | Cultural Competency with Nancy Connor | via Zoom |
| Wednesday, November 18 from 6 – 7:30 PM | Training Wrap-Up | via Zoom |
Fall 2020 Tutor Training Sign Up
Completing the form at THIS LINK registers you for Literacy Volunteers of Bangor’s new tutor training. Within a few days of registering, you will receive an email outlining next steps, including an assignment to complete prior to the orientation session.
https://forms.gle/LMc9bcZidsUrj6MHA
Future Trainings Sign Up Form
If you’d like to receive notifications about future trainings, please submit your information using the form below.
Other Ways To Volunteer
Many ways exist to help Literacy Volunteers grow and thrive. Our volunteer committees are vital, as they do much of the organization’s planning and work. Please read below to learn more about each committee, as well as a few specific volunteer roles we are trying to fill.
If you have experience or expertise in any of the following areas, please contact our office at (207) 947-8451, or email info@LVBangor.org.
| Area Of Opportunity | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| Communications Committee | This committee meets monthly and oversees the branded efforts related to marketing, advertising, public and media relations. It generates coordinated TV, radio, print, social media, direct mail, and email communications. Activities include: – Advertising & marketing – Event planning – Graphic design – Media relations – Recruitment/outreach – Social media management and content generation – Writing and editing – Website maintenance |
| Finance Committee | This committee meets quarterly and reviews the overall financial health of the organization. Activities include: – Analyzing financial data, processes, and controls – Budgeting – Financial planning – General accounting |
| Governance Committee | This committee meets monthly and oversees the internal workings of the organization, with a focus on areas like human resources, internal communications, the development and maintenance of official documents, and long-term planning. Related activities include: – Information systems – Insurance/risk management – Law/legal affairs – Personnel management – Review of organizational documents – Strategic planning |
| Resource Development Committee | This committee meets monthly and is charged with networking to raise public support through a number of fundraising efforts. Related activities include: – Corporate sponsorships – Grant writing – Major giving/planned giving – Networking for private support – Special event coordination |
| Tutor Training & Support | This committee meets monthly and includes a core group of experienced tutors. Additional members who can provide professional training on literacy-related topics are also welcome. Related activities include: – Administering satisfaction surveys – Coordinating book or writing clubs – Conference planning – Evaluating training – Maintaining ongoing communication with tutors – Providing content-related training on literacy, language, – culture or related topics – Supporting/mentoring new and existing tutors |
| Office Support | When we undertake large projects, like mailings or preparing for trainings, our volunteers are there to help. If you are interested in helping with occasional projects or one of our ongoing efforts, we’d love to have you. Projects include tasks like: – Copying/collating projects – Customer relations (out-bound calls) – Data entry – Filing and maintaining records – Mailings – Other project-based work |
Volunteer Stories
Our volunteers say the rewards of volunteering are far greater than the effort. Read the stories to see how getting involved with Literacy Volunteers could impact your life.
Jon Ferreira, Tutor
Jon Ferreira is an actor and director with national experience. He sees the connection between theater and volunteer work. “Acting is about you–the applause, the instant gratification,” he says. “Directing is about them. How can I make other people look good?” That understanding made tutoring a natural choice.
“Jon has a unique set of skills,” says Mary Marin Lyon, Executive Director. “But like other tutors, he loves to help people.” Background doesn’t matter. The desire to help is what counts.
Fran Day, Tutor
Fran Day was expecting a lot of hard work on grammar and writing when she began tutoring Lee Chapman, Mostly, though, they just talked.
Lee, originally from South Korea, continues to work on her English skills. The two chatted weekly and did some work on writing skills. Sometimes they attend events together.
“I like to give back,” Fran says. She’s found out more about a distant country and another woman’s life experiences. “It’s important to me to contribute, and this is a great organization.”
Kristen Wallace, Tutor
When Kristen Wallace first began working with Elodie, who is from Cameroon, they were instantly compatible. Still, their conversation in English was strained due to Elodie’s limited English skills.
They started simply, naming and labeling the items in Elodie’s apartment. They examined sales flyers, made grocery lists, went shopping, and moved on to filling out paperwork. One day, Kristen realized that the conversation was flowing naturally.
Kristen learned a lot, too. “My perspective on so many things has changed..Volunteering in any capacity feels great. But when it’s one-on-one? Wow! It brings tears to my eyes to see her appreciation for everything.”
Janet Speranza-Moran, Communication Committee Member
Manage a project? Orchestrate a special event? Develop TV ads? Janet Speranza-Moran has done this and much more.
While Janet has served on the Board of Directors and as a tutor, she now serves on the Communication Committee and is one of the many quiet, behind-the-scenes volunteers who get things done.
Sally McManus, Tutor
Sally knows that when a person’s ability to read is limited, his or her future is limited as well. That’s why she became a tutor.What she didn’t count on was how enriching tutoring would be. Her first student was a middle-aged man whose goal was to read the Bangor Daily News. Sally arranged for a tour of the BDN for her student. This helped motivate him, and Sally celebrated with him when he reached his goal.
Her next student was a woman in her twenties who needed help to get through a training program at Job Corps. Once again, Sally was able to help her achieve her goal.
“I cared for both of them very much,” recalls Sally. “You don’t just teach them to read. You get involved with their lives.”