ProLiteracy's affiliate in Pascagoula, Mississippi was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Watch now.

The ProLiteracy Infrastructure Rebuilding Fund

ProLiteracy Worldwide has established a special fund to support rebuilding the adult literacy infrastructure in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The fund will support requests from local adult literacy programs for instructional materials, books and other supplies, and cash stipends. This support may be requested by local adult literacy programs located in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and, in special cases, by local programs in other parts of the country that are addressing the literacy needs of hurricane evacuees.

While ProLiteracy's mission is not to provide immediate disaster relief, we cannot turn our backs on our friends in this time of need. In the communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, adult basic education and literacy programs have suffered severe damage to their buildings, communications systems, office equipment and supplies, records, and instructional materials and computers. Adult literacy programs have lost contact with staff, volunteers, and students. Many have suffered incomprehensible personal losses. Adult literacy instruction has been interrupted at best, and may not resume at all in some communities without assistance.

ProLiteracy has developed several initiatives to assist both our literacy programs impacted by Hurricane Katrina and the programs that are helping evacuees.

Preparing Students in YOUR Program for Disaster

All ProLiteracy America group affiliates will receive a free kit of disaster preparedness materials in February 2006. These high-interest easy-to-read materials can be integrated easily into an existing literacy, ESL, or adult education curriculum. The materials are the result of a partner project carried out by the Home Safety Council, ProLiteracy America, and Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University. The kits also will be distributed to Literacy USA coalitions and to local fire departments.

This is the second free kit provided through the partner project. The first kit was mailed in September 2005 and focused on reducing death and injuries from home fires. Individual items from this kit can be downloaded free from Fire Safety Literacy Project The disaster preparedness materials will also be available on this site in February.

To receive either of these kits at no cost, join the Home Safety Council Expert Network at Home Safety Council.

Ways You Can Help

ProLiteracy has established a special Katrina Fund for donations earmarked for rebuilding adult literacy programs in the affected region. The Commission On Adult Basic Education (COABE) and the National Council of Directors of Adult Education are assisting in this effort. To donate, click here.

ProLiteracy's National Book Scholarship Fund will give special consideration to applications received from literacy programs adversely impacted by hurricane Katrina. Contact Mara Roberts for more details at 315-422-9121 ext. 345 or via e-mail at mroberts@proliteracy.org.

A book discount program through ProLiteracy's publishing division, New Readers Press, has been established for all qualifying programs. Contact Sharon Bonney for details at 315-422-9121 ext. 335 or via e-mail at sbonney@proliteracy.org.

ProLiteracy is partnering with Reading is Fundamental in the collection and distribution of books and materials. Click here to learn how you can help.

You can access the ProLiteracy Katrina Response Message Board to view suggestions and comments sent in by our affiliates, and to post your own stories and suggestions here.

These guidelines for partnering with a family can also help you find a way to partner with an adult literacy program that has been impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Click here.

For more information on any of these initiatives, contact Sharon Bonney, Coordinator for the ProLiteracy Katrina Relief Response:

	E-mail:	sbonney@proliteracy.org
	Phone:	(315) 422-9121 ext. 335
	Mail:	ProLiteracy America Katrina Relief c/o Sharon Bonney 1320 Jamesville Ave. Syracuse, NY 13210