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BATESVILLE, AR – Thanks to the Christian Health Center of Batesville and their volunteer optometrist Mark Davis of the Batesville Eye Care Center, a Literacy Project student received an eye exam and much needed reading glasses this week. A combination of volunteer doctors, volunteer staff, grants and community donations allow the Christian Health Center to provide free or low-cost health services for local residents.

During weekly tutoring sessions, an Ozark Foothills Literacy Project tutor noticed her student struggling with self-prescribed over-the-counter magnifier glasses. It was difficult for the student to read for two full hours due to eye strain and headaches. A trip to the Christian Health Center led to an appointment with volunteer optometrist Mark Davis. “CHCB is so grateful to have the Optometric Physicians and staff at Batesville Eye Care as a resource for our patients. They are a true blessing,” said Christian Health Center director Kari Jones.

The Ozark Foothills Literacy Project teaches adults who seek to improve their reading skills, and adults who are learning English. “Our students need to be able to see well to succeed in their studies,” said Literacy Project director Nicole Stroud. “We are very thankful that the Christian Health Center was able to assist our student.”

The Christian Health Center of Batesville currently operates at Believer's Community Church, 3645 N. St. Louis St., just a few miles north of Batesville. They are open the first and third Thursday of each month from 6:00p to 9:00p. For more information, please call (870) 698-1985 or visit www.chcofbatesville.com. For more information about the Literacy Project, call (870) 793-5912 or visit www.literacyindependence.org.

Dozens of Independence County kids and their parents celebrated the “Love of Reading” at February's Family Reading Night at the Batesville preschool on Thursday, February 2nd. The preschool's cafeteria was packed with families doing Valentine-themed crafts together, followed by a storytime lead by Independence County Library librarian Vanessa Adams. Each child took home a Valentine-themed book, courtesy Junior Auxiliary of Independence County. Family Reading Nights are a joint effort of Jr. Auxiliary, Batesville School District's Parents as Teachers, and the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project. All families with children between ages 0-5 are welcome. March's Family Reading Night, "Seuss on the Loose" is scheduled for March 1, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

The Ozark Foothills Literacy Project has entered the second year of its membership program, and supporters can now join or renew 2012 memberships online at www.literacyindependece.org/donate. Memberships can also be obtained by mailing payment to OFLP, 45 Thunderbird Dr., Batesville AR 72501. Individual memberships are available for $25 and family memberships are $35. Author's Club memberships, which support a returning student for one year are $200.00, and Publisher's Club memberships, which support a new student for one year, are $350.

“Our members are critical for the Literacy Project's continued operations,” said Director Nicole Stroud. “We rely on community support to help us provide textbooks and other materials for students.”

In December 2010, the Literacy Council of Independence County expanded to include Sharp and Fulton Counties, and became the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project. Individual tutoring for adult students who are improving their reading skills or their English literacy remains the Literacy Project's core service. Over 50 students received one-on-one tutoring through the Literacy Project in 2011, across Independence, Sharp and Fulton Counties.

Martin Luther King once said, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” AmeriCorps members from the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project participated in the 26th annual Martin Luther King National Day of Service, an opportunity to honor the legacy of Dr. King. The National Day of Service is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn and Serve America, and other national service initiatives. Day Of Service, billed as “A Day on, Not a Day Off,” inspires volunteer projects in communities across the United States.

AmeriCorps member Shelly Seymore and her eight-year-old twins, Erin and Ian, helped sort canned goods at Batesville's Help and Hope, an Arkansas Foodbank site. AmeriCorps member Matthew Carpenter made new four-legged friends at the Humane Society of Independence County. “Shelly and Matthew are serving their community at a time when many have a pressing need for support from their neighbors,” said Literacy Project director Nicole Stroud. “Their enthusiasm for teaching others through the Literacy Project is admirable, and their willingness to contribute to other organizations on this Day of Service further demonstrates what an asset they are to the community.”

Seymore and Carpenter tutor adult students who are learning to read or who are learning English with the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project. The Literacy Project serves Independence, Sharp and Fulton Counties. For more information about the Literacy Project, visit literacyindependence.org or call (870) 793-5912. For more information about the MLK Day of Service, visit http://mlkday.gov/.

Computer literacy is an increasingly important skill. OFLP offers some computer instruction for its students, but non-OFLP students can gain computer literacy skills through free classes at the White River Regional Library.

Computer Basics: Learning the Mouse

It's a new year! Let's kick it off together by doing some good. Join me in pledging to give $5 to the Literacy Project every time the Hogs score a touchdown in Cotton Bowl 2012! -OFLP Director, Nicole Stroud

Note: Snoball.com has the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project listed under our old name, the Literacy Council of Independence County. Rest assured that funds will be directed to us!

If you are one of the many Literacy Project tutors who uses the Lyon or UACCB library to meet with your student, please take note of holiday closings:

The Lyon library will be closed the following dates:

• Sat., Dec. 17th – Sun., Dec. 18th
• Fri., Dec 23 – Jan 2 (reopens Tues., Jan. 3)

The UACCB library will be closed the following dates:

16-year-old Batesville artist Sarah Rudd's holiday cards, a benefit for the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project, are now available! $10 for a pack of 12 cards. There are 3 ways to place an order: