Mary Martin joined Literacy Rochester as a volunteer in early 2019. She had heard about it through a former co-worker who volunteered here and thought “That sounds like a good place to volunteer.” She now helps twice a week, visiting two different centers that serve refugees: Mary’s Place and Refugees Helping Refugees.
“I didn’t know how big the need was for digital literacy,” Mary says. “I enjoy the people and they are so eager to learn. Refugees are amazing people who have gone through so much to get here, and they are grateful for help. It’s a reminder of how lucky we are.”
Mary wants potential volunteers to know that the work is “absolutely rewarding. Sometimes there’s a language barrier but we work around it!” Mary hopes to do even more volunteering with Literacy Rochester in the future, either in the tutoring program or substituting at other Digital Literacy sites if needed.
Mary has received praise from refugee center staff for helping people on the path to employment and also for “making cyberspace a less scary place for our people!” We at Literacy Rochester join them in thanking Mary for her kind and caring work.
Digital Literacy, a program of Literacy Rochester, helps adults become fully engaged in their community as citizens, parents, consumers, and workers. The Digital Literacy program is provided free of charge on a one-to-one, drop-in basis in partnership with OACES.
Individuals can drop in for free computer help at these times and locations.