This week is Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and a free program in Washington aims to help adults in the community improve their skills.

An individualized tutor program pairs a volunteer with an adult learner to work on skills they’re seeking to improve. Kirkwood Washington Regional Center Adult Literacy Coordinator Dr. Monie Hayes shares some of those in the program want to learn computer skills, or improve reading skills for work or an exam, while others have a family-related motivation, “They want to be able to read to their children, they want to be able to read along with their children. We had one young man who started reading with his son, and was happy when he could pick out a Valentine for his sweetheart, so that was nice to see. We have people who might want to help students with homework, or often just set an example and show that they’re willing to be lifelong learners as they would hope that their children would be.”

She adds that approximately 14% of American adults read below a fifth grade level. Volunteers don’t need a certain background, just a willingness to help someone. Pairs meet for about an hour each week. Anyone interested in joining the program as either a tutor or student should contact Hayes to get more information. An open house for the one-on-one tutor program is being held at the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center at 6 p.m. Thursday for current members of the program as well as prospective tutors and students.