Our Mission

The mission of Literacy Volunteers of Waldo County is to empower adult learners by increasing their literacy skills, improving opportunity through reading, and enhancing a culture of literacy within our community.

High levels of functional illiteracy among adults are known to create socioeconomic challenges for Maine citizens, such as poverty and homelessness. Population census data for Waldo County indicates that, within Maine, it ranks 4th for “children living in poverty” @ 24.4%  (from County Rankings website) and 5th for persons living below poverty level at 16.4 %  (2009-2013)

Literacy Facts:

Literacy In Waldo County

Literacy In The United States***

* 2012 data from County Health Rankings.org, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program.

** Based on 2015 estimates of Waldo County population of 38,940

***(from Begintoread.com

What does "lacking" basic prose literacy mean?

Those lacking basic literacy skills do not have the skills/abilities to: