Together Day event celebrates literacy volunteers

Andover - Some 60 people participated in the annual Together Day event on June 11 sponsored by Literacy Volunteers of Sussex County. In attendance at the picnic in Hillside Park in Andover were tutors, students, and board members of the organization, which seeks to promote and enhance literacy of those in need of basic reading, math, or English as a second language training. The literacy efforts can enable someone to read to his or her child or to obtain a GED certificate for career and job advancement. The annual Together Day celebrates such efforts. According to Margaret Gadel, president of the local chapter, there are now some 74 tutors trained, with 29 recruits entered this year, and there are 57 matches with area students. She said the organization is on track to have 100 students in the near future. Dr. Charles McNeil, Pastor of Sparta Methodist Church, was saluted as a “friend of literacy” for making his church available for Literacy Volunteer tutor training. Arnulfo Vargas was saluted as “outstanding student of 2006” for his gains made in the past year in attaining literacy. Marg Cross, of Sparta, was the recipient of the “outstanding tutor” award for her tutoring efforts at Project Self Sufficiency, a displaced homemaker program. Many of the attendees were given door prizes by corporate and other sponsors of literacy. Donors included Ward’s Flowers, Arthur’s St. Moritz Restaurant, Condit Toyota, Craft Creations, the New Jersey Herald, Space Farms, Sterling Mine Museum and the Franklin Wal-Mart.