Literacy Council Frederick County

Volunteer Information Session - Virtual Zoom Call
2023-11-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-11-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-11-05 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Come learn about the Literacy Council, and get information on the ways to volunteer and what volunteering involves. You will learn about our programs, who we serve, and how you can help.

Tutor Training Workshop
2023-11-28 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-04-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-07-15 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-10-23 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-05 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-12-10 18:30 - 20:30
Prepare to tutor an adult who needs to learn English or a native English speaker who needs to improve their reading skills with three evenings of training by our experienced tutor trainers conducted on Zoom. All three evenings are required for completion. You must also attend one Volunteer Information Session or an approved alternative prior to the training.

Volunteer Information Session - Virtual Zoom Call
2023-12-07 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-05-29 11:00 - 12:00
Come learn about the Literacy Council, and get information on the ways to volunteer and what volunteering involves. You will learn about our programs, who we serve, and how you can help.
All sessions are currently being offered as Zoom calls. An email will be sent with specific instructions following online registration.

Classes for Students
2024-01-06 09:00 - 2024-03-30 20:00, 2024-07-08 09:00 - 2024-08-22 20:00, 2024-09-16 09:00 - 2024-11-25 20:00
The Literacy Council offers community classes to help adults learn to read, write and speak English. Classes include: conversation classes at beginning, intermediate and more advanced levels; beginning listening, speaking and reading; writing; and civics.
Depending on the class, some are conducted remotely on Zoom and others are in person. Learn more HERE for a general description of classes. From that page, to see the current class schedule, select Download Current Class Schedule here.
If you are interested in registering for classes, contact the Literacy Council at (301) 600-2066 or email info@frederickliteracy.org

Classes for Students
2024-04-22 09:00 - 2024-06-15 16:00
The Literacy Council offers community classes to help adults learn to read, write and speak English. Classes include: conversation classes at beginning, intermediate and more advanced levels; beginning listening, speaking and reading; and writing.
Depending on the class, some are conducted remotely on Zoom and others are in person. Learn more HERE for a general description of classes. From that page, to see the current class schedule, select Download Current Class Schedule here.
If you are interested in registering for classes, contact the Literacy Council at (301) 600-2066 or email info@frederickliteracy.org

Scrabble Mania for Literacy 2024
2024-05-08 18:00 - 21:00
SAVE THE DATE!!
Join us on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 for our SCRABBLE® Mania for Literacy fundraiser. We are excited to partner again with Chris Sparks as our Game Master from Surelocked In Escape Games at Steinhardt Brewing Company! This event is for adults 21 and over.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8th
LOCATION: Steinhardt Brewing Company
340 East Patrick Street, Suite 100-102
Frederick, MD 21701
(240) 651-0057

View more information on the Scrabble Mania Page

Stuff the Bus 2024 - June 17 through July 30
2024-06-17 09:00 - 2024-07-30 16:00
The Literacy Council is again participating as a collection site for the United Way’s Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive. Stuff the Bus is a way for the community to come together to help young people succeed in school and is a way for the Literacy Council to support family literacy. Help share this flyer too!
37,055 (36%) households in Frederick County struggle to afford basic necessities (https://www.unitedwayfrederick.org/challenge-ALICE), so they find it very difficult to afford needed school supplies. This drive helps ensure that all children have the supplies they need to do their homework, take tests, and complete projects. In 2023, more than 250 bins of supplies were collected and thousand of items were purchased with donor gifts. With this drive, more than 3,000 Frederick County students receive supplies and support to learn. It is a simple but important way to help children succeed in school!
STUFF THE BUS VIRTUAL DRIVE:
This year the Literacy Council is also supporting online donations for school supplies through the Stuff the Bus virtual drive organized by the United Way of Frederick County which runs Monday, June 10 through Friday, July 12. The virtual drive allows for cash donations to purchase school supplies:
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/StuffTheBus24/team/LiteracyCouncil
Donations of any amount are most appreciated. Here are some examples of what different cash donations might purchase:
$15 buys pencils, markers, and crayons for one kindergarten student
$50 supports one elementary student with basic supplies
$125 provides a middle school student with all necessary supplies
$200 buys a high school student basic supplies, including a graphing calculator
$500 provides 10 pre-k students with all necessary supplies
STUFF THE BUS IN-PERSON DROP OFF:
You may drop off your donation of NEW items at the Literacy Council office Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., beginning Monday, June 17 through Tuesday, July 30.

Please drop off items in the collection bin in the lobby of our 110 E. Patrick Street entrance to the library (the administrative entrance where our door is located.) You can enter through our door or the front double doors on Patrick Street. Those doors will be unlocked between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Complete list of needed items HERE.

Thank you for helping us Stuff the Bus and helping FCPS students start the school year with the supplies they need to succeed!
For more information about Stuff the Bus and how to donate, visit https://www.unitedwayfrederick.org/stuffthebus

Asbury UMC Annual Community Block Party
2024-07-20 11:00 - 16:00 | Asbury United Methodist Church, West All Saints Street, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, United States
The Literacy Council will be at the Asbury UMC Annual Community Block Party on July 20. It is a great time to ask questions in-person and learn about our program. We will be handing out children’s books, so stop at our table and say “hello”.
If you have been thinking about getting involved in the community as a volunteer, we can help you get started!

In the Streets
2024-09-14 | In the Streets, North Market Street, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, United States
Save the date for the annual In the Streets festival on Saturday, September 14, hosted by Celebrate Frederick. We will be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. across from Surelocked In Escape Games at 5 N. Market Street. The festival has been a Frederick tradition for over 30 years and is held along Market Street and Carroll Creek Urban Park. The festival highlights the historic downtown and explore the art and non profit resources that helps Frederick thrive. Visit the Literacy Council table to ask questions in-person and learn about our program. If you have been thinking about getting involved in the community as a volunteer, we can help you get started!

Fundraising for Literacy with RAK Brewing Co
2024-09-18 17:30 - 19:00
Come to RAK Brewing Co on Wednesday, September 18, from 5:30 PM – 7 PM to learn about and support the Literacy Council of Frederick County. RAK stands for “Random Acts of Kindness,” and they will be donating $1 for every full pour or flight during that time to the Literacy Council. It’s also Trivia Night, so come for the fundraiser and stay for the fun!

Photo credits: RAK Brewing Co. (Instagram:@rakbrewingco)

Volunteer Appreciation Picnic - CANCELLED
2024-09-29 14:00 - 17:00 | Middletown Park, Coblentz Road, Middletown, Maryland, 21769, United States
UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONCERNS. WE WILL RESCHEDULE IT FOR A LATER DATE.
The Literacy Council is hosting an informal Volunteer Appreciation Picnic to thank our amazing volunteers! This event will be held at Middletown Park, on Sunday, September 29, from 2-5 p.m. Watch your inbox for more details!

Frederick Community Health Fair
2024-10-05 09:00 - 15:30 | Frederick Community Health Fair, Carroll Parkway, Frederick, MD, 21701, United States
Come see the Literacy Council of Frederick County at the 17th Annual Frederick Community Health Fair at Frederick High School on Saturday, October 5th. We will be at this important community event from 9 AM – 3:30 PM. Visit the Literacy Council table to ask questions in-person and learn about our program. If you have been thinking about getting involved in the community as a volunteer, we can help you get started!

Tutor Chat & Book Giveaway
2024-10-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Literacy Council of Frederick County, MD, United States
Our classroom resource library has been re-inventoried and cleaned out to make it easier to find helpful teaching tools. As a result, we have many books and other resources available for free to you.

Frederick Community College Virtual Information Night
2024-10-29 17:30 - 18:30
Representatives from FCC will be presenting an information session for students and instructors to learn about the many programs and opportunities for students at FCC! To register, please complete this form: FCC Virtual Info Night – Fall 2024. A Zoom link will be sent to you after you register.

Celebration of Achievements 2024
2024-11-04 18:00 - 20:30 | Evangelical Reformed UCC, West Church Street, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, United States
We are looking forward to recognizing the accomplishments of our adult learners at our 10th Annual Celebration of Achievements event. We will also announce the recipient of this year’s Literacy Council’s Business & Industry Partner in Literacy Award.
This special ceremony will recognize our adult learners in the tutoring program who reached a milestone achievement from the past fiscal year, July 2023 – June 2024. We are so pleased to honor their hard work and share a special evening together with our community.

Volunteer Information Session - Virtual Zoom Call
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-11-22 10:00 - 11:00
Come learn about the Literacy Council, and get information on the ways to volunteer and what volunteering involves. You will learn about our programs, who we serve, and how you can help. Fill out our Volunteer Inquiry & Registration Form.

Holiday Children's Book Drive 2024
2024-11-15 - 2024-12-23
Click to SHARE this flyer
This holiday season the Literacy Council of Frederick County is partnering with ACNB Bank, Curious Iguana, and Phoenix Mecano for our 18th Annual Holiday Book Drive to provide new and gently-used books for elementary school aged children (PreK through 5th grade). Last year, over 900 children’s books were donated!
The Literacy Council works with adults 18 years and older, many of whom are supporting families and young children. Providing appealing, age-appropriate books to children fosters literacy at a young age and helps to break the cycle of low literacy in families. The donated books from this annual book drive are given to parents of children in elementary school who are participating in the Literacy Council’s tutoring, parent literacy, workplace, or class instruction programs.
The Literacy Council works directly with the Judy Center and Butterfly Ridge, Hillcrest, Lincoln, Monocacy, Tuscarora, and Waverley Elementary Schools to provide programs at the schools for parents whose children attend these schools, and many of our other students also have young children with whom to share the books. Books will also be distributed to children at community outreach events throughout the year.
Suggestions for younger grades include: board books, picture books (fiction and nonfiction), early chapter books; and for older grades: mid-grade chapter books, paperback series, graphic novels, and STEM titles. Donors often like to share a childhood favorite or just encourage the habit of reading in a child. We request no religious holiday themed books so that we are not limited in distributing them.
To participate in the Holiday Book Drive, you may purchase and donate books between November 15 and December 23 at Curious Iguana (www.curiousiguana.com) in downtown Frederick (12 N. Market St.) – please designate your purchase to the Literacy Council’s Holiday Book Drive and Curious Iguana will collect them in a bin at their store.
Donated unwrapped books can be dropped off at these ACNB Bank locations between November 15rd through December 23rd:
2 North on the Square: 2 North Market Street. Frederick, MD 21701
Aspen Ridge: 165A Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick, MD 21702
Crestwood: 6910 Crestwood Boulevard, Frederick, MD 21703
Walkersville: 200 Commerce Drive, Walkersville, MD 21793

Giving Tuesday
2024-12-03
Please consider making a donation on Giving Tuesday to support adult literacy through the Literacy Council of Frederick County!
This year, in partnership with Spur Local (formerly the Catalogue for Philanthropy), we are participating in the DC region’s official campaign to spotlight the critical difference we make for local communities. Beginning now through December 3rd, you can support our programs by giving here.

Holiday Tutor Chat
2024-12-10 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a festive December Tutor Chat, where you can share ideas with other teachers and tutors. Bring you favorite ESL holiday activity or game to share or just come as you are!
