About Us
Our Profile
About Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle
Over the past 40 plus years the Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle (LVEP’s) strong community presence has filled literacy, language, civics and learning needs for adults. The program depends on a network of tutors and community volunteers to provide services to clients and students in need of basic literacy; basic writing; English language; computer; workforce training; Citizenship; and high school equivalency skills. LVEP receives referrals from local agencies such as school boards, the Eastern Panhandle Instructional Cooperative (EPIC), the Department of Health and Human Resources, county court system, and regional adult education programs. Volunteers meet clients and students in a variety of settings, including adult education sites; libraries; community centers; local shops; nursing homes; and shelters for the unhoused. All tutoring services are free of charge to the client and student.
Every tutor is an asset and reading truly changes lives. If you are interested in making a difference in your community, become a tutor with LVEP. Your support and encouragement can have a lasting impact on someone’s life.
Referrals
LVEP receives client referrals from local agencies such as the three county school boards; Eastern Panhandle Instructional Cooperative; the Department of Health and Human Resources; and county and regional adult education programs: Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties.
LVEP Facts
Did you know that ?
- LVEP began over forty years ago at the Martinsburg Library.
- After a fire destroyed our office in 2023, we have a new home at the Ranson Institute of Secondary Education (RISE.)
- We serve adults in a variety of settings including adult education centers, Blue Ridge Technical, local libraries, local retail shops, community centers, shelters for the unhoused and nursing homes.
- Volunteer tutors have varied skills and life experiences.
- We assist adults with obtaining their GED at all locations.
- We offer classes and individual support in Jefferson and Berkeley counties for adults seeking to become U.S. citizens.
- LVEP volunteers work with a large group of English Language Learners in small groups and individual tutoring sessions held in Jefferson and Berkeley counties. Day and evening instruction is offered.
- LVEP tutors assist adults who have experienced lifelong struggles with reading.
- High School Equivalency data reported to the West Virginia Department of Education shows improved performance across all academic areas as determined by the Test of Basic Education (TABE) for enrolled students. LVEP tutors contribute volunteer hours to help students achieve required progress.
- Many adults served by LVEP are parents of children enrolled in local schools.
- LVEP works in partnership with Drug Court, Day Report Center, Juvenile Justice and WV Workforce, when needed.
LVEP History
Leadership Timeline of
Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle, Inc.
1981
LVEP was born when Therese Hess, a part-time employee of the Martinsburg Public Library, and her husband approached the Friends of the Library for money to buy stamps and flyers to announce the opening of a class to help people learn to read. The Hess couple were inspired after attending a literacy training class sponsored by the Literacy Volunteers of America in Buchannon, WV. Thirty-six people signed up for the first literacy tutor training class during a reception at the library for Barbara Bush, wife of the vice-president and strong literacy advocate.
1982
The organization applies and receives status as a corporation from the West Virginia State Attorney’s office.
1982 to 2007
Directorship passed from Theresa Hess, briefly to Rebecca McDaniel (volunteer and board member), then to Kelly Duncan. Duncan served the organization as an AmeriCorps volunteer prior to accepting the position of director. The organization also flourished during this time period as a result of a substantial grant from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and significant support from the United Way. During this era, LVEP accepted oversight for the Open Door literacy program in Jefferson County. The director of that program retired and the organization and funding difficulties prevented the hiring of a new director.
2008
Debbie Gillis was hired as the director of LVEP with the goal of obtaining new sources of funding: the grant from the Barbara Bush Foundation expired and the contribution by the United Way was significantly reduced. Gillis was successful in obtaining generous grants that provided for
the purchase of laptop labs, training materials for tutors, and learning materials for students; however, funds were not sufficient to continue a paid director position. LVEP began working with parents of young children in Morgan County through the leadership of Al Ramsay (board member, tutor trainer, and tutor) and the Starting Points program. Additionally, the one of new laptop computer labs is used to begin a computer literacy program at the Morgan County Senior Center.
2009 to 2010
The Board of Directors was transformed into a working board under the leadership of Betty Kreinik, president of the LVEP Board. Part-time administrative support was provided by Kay Cress, first as a paid employee and then as a volunteer.
2011 to 2013
The organization continued through the volunteerism and leadership of the Board of Directors and the administrative support of AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers Erin Manion (2011 – 2012) and Pat Woodson (2012 – 2013). The organization underwent intensive visioning and
strategic planning. In the spring of 2013 the WV AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer program reduced the number of positions in the state and LVEP’s contract was not renewed.
2012
Mission Statement: Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle (LVEP) empowers adults in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties to reach their full potential as individuals, parents, workers and citizens through confidential and free literacy and language tutoring provided by trained volunteers.
Vision Statement: LVEP strives to eliminate illiteracy in the tri-county area so all adults and future generations will be empowered to succeed in their personal and professional lives while making positive contributions to our community.
2013 to 2014
LVEP contracted with Pat Woodson to assist the organization in continued participation in a recently obtained American Library Association (ALA) grant and to meet LVEP’s requirement to provide a presence in the office provided by the library for a minimum of 20 hours per week. The ALA grant was awarded to the Martinsburg Public Library and LVEP as a joint venture in promoting English language learners to access the Mango, a web-based language program provided free of charge by the Martinsburg Public Library.
2017
In October 2017, LVEP implemented an all-volunteer Berkeley County English and Citizenship class at the Salvation Army in Martinsburg led by board member Elizabeth Apolinar and three other volunteers. The class then transitioned to the Berkeley County Library in September 2018 for better access to technology and a more centralized location. The classes were held until May 2019.
2019
In January 2019, LVEP brought on new officers and board members committed to streamlining the now all-volunteer organization with the goal of finding efficient ways to continue serving adult learners. LVEP has increased its use of digital tools to manage operations, strengthened existing partnerships with state-funded Adult Learning Centers and is reaching out to new partners as we work toward that goal. LVEP’s June 2019 annual meeting brought together over 50 volunteers and learners to celebrate our successes, elect the current officers, and commit to keeping LVEP “alive and well.” During 2019 LVEP was awarded a Nora Roberts Foundation grant, implemented new volunteer intake and training procedures, started new citizenship and adult ESL classes in Berkeley County and a new adult ESL class in Jefferson and provided tutors for new basic literacy students in both Berkeley and Jefferson counties.
In the summer of 2019, an additional class was started at Martinsburg South Middle School to address a request from the school to teach parents who needed English. These classes were held two times per week and eventually went to zoom due to COVID. Two on-line classes were being led by volunteers with SPOKES students.
2020
During this time, another request came from Bunker Hill Elementary. This was set up in January 2020 for the new school session, however, COVID caused the classes to go on-line and proved difficult due to lack of students with computers and internet access.
2022
In 2022, classes were set up at a church in Inwood to meet two nights a week with 15 volunteers and 75 students across multiple levels. This got everyone back together after COVID, but by December we had outgrown our space once again and moved to the Lutz Avenue location.
2023
In June 2023, the LVEP summer session started one night a week. Success of this summer activity carries on through today.
2024
In January 2024, classes began four nights a week covering four levels of learning needs. The students are anxious to learn and are very appreciative of their volunteer teachers.
LVEP History Continued
In 2019 LVEP headquarters moved to the Ranson location along with our partner, the Jefferson County Adult Learning Center. Services were expanded to include more evening options for adult education student orientation, citizenship classes, and daytime instructional space. The program transitioned to virtual tutoring sessions via ZOOM during COVID with a dedicated group of teachers and tutors committed to keeping the program relevant and viable in difficult times.
In-person services began again at all LVEP/Adult Education locations in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties in 2021-22. In July of 2023, a devastating lightning strike and fire destroyed the LVEP office housed within the Jefferson County Adult Learning Center in Ranson, West Virginia. The building and its contents were destroyed and a complete loss. Many years’ worth of materials and equipment designated for adult students and their tutors were destroyed. We were temporarily housed at Corner Connection, an event space in Charles Town, along with Jefferson County Adult Learning Center and Jefferson County SPOKES.
With no hope of restoring LVEP instructional materials and equipment with our existing operating budget, the board sought grant funds to assist with our rebuilding efforts. In June 2024 LVEP received $26,750 dollars from the Women Investing in Shepherd (WISH) fund. These funds were divided over a two-year period and used to rebuild our resource library of workbooks and instructional materials, purchase laptops and printers to support tutors in the office and in the community, and finally to create a small office and tutoring space.
In August of 2025 we joined our partner, Jefferson County Adult Learning Center, in the refurbished Ranson Elementary School, now an alternative center for adult learners; Ranson Institute of Secondary Education (RISE.) We are grateful to the WISH grant and Jefferson County Schools for helping us to continue providing the excellent services for which we have been known for over 40 years.