Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto announced the town's support of Literacy Nassau, a group that helps residents throughout Nassau County with reading, writing or speaking English through personalized instruction. He also invites residents to sign up as volunteers in the organization.

"Literacy Nassau provides services for as many as 1,000 adults in Nassau County who are functionally illiterate," Venditto said. "Volunteers assist them, their families - and hopefully future generations - toward self-sufficiency and personal success."

The supervisor noted that finding quality volunteers is the number one challenge faced by Literacy Nassau, which has had a waiting list of students since its inception.

"The uniqueness of the Literacy Nassau program is the learner-center approach tutors take with students," Venditto said. "They meet at local facilities, such as libraries, for one-on-one or small group sessions, in an effort to provide the best quality of tutorship possible."

The supervisor explained that tutors are trained and certified by Literacy Nassau. Training is provided through 15-hour workshops, split into either five three-hour sessions or three five-hour sessions. Volunteers are asked to pay a materials fee for textbooks provided by Literacy Nassau.

"Perhaps you, or somebody you know, have been contemplating undertaking a new adventure through work as a volunteer," Venditto said. "Why not help a great cause, which will not only build the self-esteem and skill level of another human being, but will also provide you with a great satisfaction, knowing that you helped make a difference to a person in need."

A tutor training workshop is scheduled at the Jericho Public Library beginning Friday, Jan. 25. For more information about Literacy Nassau, or to sign up to become a volunteer, visit www.literacynassau.org, or contact their offices at 486-2789.

"For nearly 40 years, Literacy Nassau has had a sincere and unwavering mission: to promote and foster literacy among adults learned in need of improved skills," Venditto said. "Through trained volunteer tutors in one-to-one and small group learning experiences, students are matched with tutors to achieve the educational, economic and social goals they and their tutors have identified as important to them. The Town of Oyster Bay is proud to support the efforts of this organization."