Volunteers Needed Friday for Literacy Association

September is National Literacy Month, and Saturday is International Literacy Day.

With the focus on literacy this month, here are two ways to give back Friday for Trident United Way's Day of Caring:

• Trident Literacy Assocation is moving out of its new Summerville location and needs 10 volunteers; and
• Trident Literacy Assocation is painting at one of its North Charleston locations and needs two volunteers.

Trident Literacy serves adults age 17 and up who do not have a high school diploma and nonspeakers of English. The agency serves about 2,500 students annually at six main sites and approximately 20 outreach locations throughout the county. The small staff is assisted by nearly 250 volunteer tutors. 

On Tuesday, Dorchester County Council recognized Literacy Month and Literacy Day with Trident Literacy Assocation.

According to the proclammation, 30 percent of the county's adults experience literacy issues and 6,000 adults in the county do not have a high school credential.

According to TLA's website, the average cost to taxpayers is $292,000 over the working life of each high school dropout, in terms of lost earnings and therefore lower taxes paid, and higher spending for social sots including incarceration, healthcare and welfare.