Twice weekly, Kaye Morris volunteered at Broad Street Ministry Center with families -- sometimes 80 a week -- who needed food, hygiene items and household supplies.
It wasn't long before her work at the food pantry led to a discovery: The ministry's clients weren't in need of just food and clothing. Many lacked reading and writing skills, too.
"We had so many people who couldn't fill out a form," Morris said. "They'd say, 'I left my glasses at home.' They'd make an excuse rather than just tell you they can't read."
Morris was hired as the director of the ministry center in February and has made it one of her main goals to expand the ministry's adult literacy program.
Karleen Nichols joined the staff as an administrative assistant. Together, they are two-thirds of the staff.
The ministry largely depends on volunteers, and the only other paid staffer is Cathy Gilbert, who coordinates the Hope Dental Clinic.
The dental clinic is one of many components of the ministry, providing low-cost treatment to "working-poor adults," Morris said.
The center also runs ministries for women and children. It directs coat and blanket drives from its office at the far east end of Broad Street.
Once a week, a tutor meets there with a student. Classes are one on one, and tutors commit to working with a student every week for a year.
Ruth Freeman, 63, signed up for the program because, she said, "It's never too late to try to get an education ... ."
A training session next month will prepare more volunteers for the program.
"We desperately need more people to teach," said Morris, who has a waiting list with at least a dozen students needing tutors.
After training, tutors are certified through the North American Mission Board, the domestic missions agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Together, students and tutors make their way through the year with a self-paced course of study.
Students come to the program with all sorts of motivations. They pay $5 to participate.
"I have a student who just wanted to be able to read recipes," Morris said. "She eventually made biscuits for everyone in the center. It was a proud day."
Another hoped to be able to help her grandchildren with homework. A third wanted to read Bible verses.
The Bible is one of the study texts used by students in addition to reading and grammar books, said Becky Bostick, a volunteer tutor who got involved through her church, Martinez Baptist.
"What better way to teach someone to read than with God's Word?" she said.
Gene Eason also volunteers with the program.
"I read the newsletter," she said, "and I decided I could step out of my box and make a call that would help somebody else."
WHAT: The Broad Street Ministry Center needs tutors ages 18 and older for its expanding adult literacy program. Several training sessions are scheduled to prepare tutors for the one-year commitment they make to a student.
WHEN: The next training course spans three days, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20, 22 and 23.
WHERE: 20 Broad St.
COST: $25, which includes lunch each day and materials
CALL: (706) 722-5999 or see www.bsmcaugusta.org
Broad Street Ministry Center's former director, Jennifer Elliott, resigned in December. She's now director of Shoppe 3130, a boutique-style thrift shop that was started as a ministry of the center a year ago.
The shop, at 1126 Broad St., is now independent of the center and is expanding its ministry by offering professional suiting for women who have job interviews, as well as job-readiness training.
"My heart has been to help break the cycle of American poverty in the lives of women in need for so long, and this is something that we believe will do just that," Elliott said.
For more information, call (706) 722-5999 or see www.shoppe3130.org.
The food pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is an emergency food assistance ministry (clients are allowed two visits per year). Volunteers minister on a one-on-one basis to every person that receives assistance. For more information, call (706) 722-5999.
Source: bsmcaugusta.org
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