Governor recognizes decades of work by Literacy Volunteers

BANGOR – Ed Boucher remembers a time when he, like a shockingly high number of other Mainers, couldn’t read or write.

“When I became disabled I knew it was time to do something about it,” Boucher said Wednesday night. “If I could read and write I could get a job. That’s when I looked for help.”

Boucher sought help with the Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, or LVB, the Maine affiliate of the Literacy Volunteers of America. He has been a driver for Gov. John Baldacci for 15 years, and volunteers with LVB and with the United Way, speaking about literacy.

Baldacci on Wednesday honored the Bangor group for 35 years of public service with a spaghetti supper at the Bangor Conference Center. Baldacci and Boucher were on hand to help serve up spaghetti, salad, rolls and desserts at the supper, a fund-raiser for the LVB.

“I believe the Literacy Volunteers of Bangor do something very important,” Baldacci said. “They help people navigate today’s world. We are recognizing the 100 volunteers that have helped adults with their basic literacy programs, and their special programs for children aged 5-16.”

Baldacci declared Oct. 27 Literacy Volunteers of Bangor Day in Maine, and presented the group with a plaque and a special proclamation.

Mary Lyon, executive director of the LVB, stressed that literacy is an ongoing problem in Maine.

“Fifteen percent of Mainers have the lowest level of reading ability,” Lyon said Wednesday. “That means they have a great deal of difficulty doing things most of us take for granted, like negotiating the phone book, or reading the mail. The Literacy Volunteers of Bangor are committed to helping all Mainers reach a high level of reading and writing ability.”

Nationwide, the Literacy Volunteers of America have more than 50,000 volunteer members. One in five Americans are functionally illiterate, and 75 percent of unemployed adults have reading or writing difficulties, according to a Literacy Volunteers affiliate Web site.

Allison Cote, president of the LVB board of directors, was pleased with the honor.

“Gov. Baldacci has been a huge supporter of ours for years,” Cote said. “He has helped us raise awareness about literacy in Maine for a long time, and we really appreciate the effort.”

“Over 150,000 Mainers need help reading,” Baldacci said. “The Literacy Volunteers of Bangor are there for them, and I commend them.”