Active seniors in Madison County get involved in literacy programs teaching those who can’t read

By Melissa Stefanec

Bridging the age gap isn’t something a lot of seniors are comfortable doing. While seniors grew up with Elvis and Wonderbread, today’s youth are growing up with 50cent and trans fat. Despite those differences some seniors in Central New York are volunteering their time and are reaching across the generations to fill in a gap.

Two programs titled “Project Read” and “Madison County Reads Ahead” connect literacy volunteers with those in need.

Quite often the programs’ volunteers are seniors who work with those much younger to improve literacy and further education for people who want to learn.

The initial project began in 2000 as a one-on-one adult tutoring program. Through the program, trained volunteers work with people over 18 on a number of adult education skills. Tutors work with people in need of literacy improvement, those learning English as a second language and those who want to obtain their General Equivalency Diplomas (GEDs). Most of the volunteer tutors are retired or near-retired seniors and many of the students are much younger individuals.

Linda Kerr is one such tutor. The 60-year-old Bridgeport resident has been a bus driver for 28 years. Although she’s been around young people throughout her career, this is her first time in a teaching role. Her student is 19-year-old Sabrina Fontana, also of Bridgeport. Fontana is working toward earning her GED and plans to take the test this fall.

“I always wanted to be a teacher and I thought this would be a good way to work with people and help them along with their education,” said Kerr.

Kerr and Fontana meet twice a week at the Bridgeport Library. They work on reading, writing, math, science and history so Fontana has the tools she needs to get her GED. They have also formed a relationship, one in which the age difference seems to dissipate.

“We converse about what’s going on in her life,” said Kerr. “I give her a chance to share the good and the bad moments over the past week.”

Being a tutor has also taught Kerr a lot. She now sees the issues many adults face when they don’t graduate from high school. For example, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, more than 18 percent of adults over 25 do not have a high school diploma in Bridgeport. Whether it’s because of a learning disability or other challenges, not everybody is given the education they need. She knows Fontana learns better in a one-on-one environment and she’s happy to supply her with that very thing.

“Some kids need more one-on-one than others and it’s hard for teachers to give these kids what they need,” said Kerr.

Kerr got involved with the program after seeing an announcement in her church bulletin. She was alerted to a very real need in her community. Even though she isn’t retired, she was ready to give back. “It’s satisfying and very rewarding,” she said.

Kerr recognizes the important role seniors can play in their communities. Retired seniors may feel alone or less useful than they once were, but they are a valuable resource.

“Usually when you retire you free up some time of your time and one of the most rewarding ways to use that time is to volunteer.”

Fontana is grateful for Kerr’s commitment and recognizes she has made up a lot of lost time.

“It’s been a really good experience because I like working one-on-one,” said Fontana. “I’ve covered a lot from working with her.”

Kerr has been happy to breach the age gap and make a difference. “We’ve built a good relationship where we can work and talk back and forth even though I’m three times her age,” she said.

Bette Carpenter of Cazenovia is another senior tutor with Madison County Reads Ahead. Carpenter is turning 80 in October, but that doesn’t stop her from giving back to others. She had jobs as a travel agent and as a building manager at a senior housing site, but when she retired she wanted to find a local organization to give her time to. Like Kerr, Carpenter got involved with the program after seeing a listing for tutor workshops in her church bulletin. She had a friend who was involved in literacy initiatives and she wanted to join the cause.

After her retirement last summer, she started working with a literacy student. Her student is a woman in her 30s who lives in Morrisville. The learner has a young family and wanted to increase her education. The two have worked together for over a year and have formed a relationship. Through meeting once a week at the library, Carpenter has seen a lot of improvement in her student’s reading.

“She does a real good job,” said Carpenter of Hall. “It’s always been an enormously worthwhile thing.”

Her experience has taught her there are still things to learn, no matter how old you are. She’s realized some people make it into their adulthood without knowing how to read and a lot of those people want a second chance.

“It’s just amazing that people can get through school and not know how to read,” said Carpenter. “It’s quite startling when you realize how many people need help.”

Carpenter wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives and address a very real problem. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, almost 8 percent of Madison County residents did not complete high school.

“For people to not be able to read it must be just awful. Reading is the most important thing to keep up with,” said Carpenter.

Carpenter believes in the power of volunteering. She also dedicates time to an organization called Caz Cares, which serves as a food pantry and clothing center. When asked how volunteering improves her life, Carpenter is quick with an unselfish answer. She doesn’t understand how able-bodied people don’t give back to their communities. She sees a lot of need and she thinks seniors can play a very active role in filling that need.

“There’s so much need,” she said. “If they aren’t working they can find the time in their daily lives to help people.

Both Carpenter and Kerr look forward to their students’ successes and plan to stay with the program. These two seniors are making a difference by donating their time.

“I want to keep volunteering in some capacity. It’s been a great experience,” said Kerr.

f you are interested in becoming a tutor, workshops will be held at the Sullivan Free Library in Chittenango. Contact Morris Atwood, Madison County literacy coordinator, at matwood@midyork.org or (315) 761-2525 to register or for more information.