~~ OUR MISSION ~~

The Eastern Shore Literacy Council's mission is to empower residents of the Eastern Shore through competence in basic literacy to more fully and confidently participate in our community, as well as, to succeed at higher levels of education and/or employment.

~~ OUR SERVICES ~~

The ESLC provides adults over the age of 18 with the very lowest literacy levels (less than 5th grade) classes and one-on-one tutoring through two programs: Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL). All instruction is free. After successful completion of our programs, learners are able to move up to the GED and higher education programs offered by the Eastern Shore Community College. ESLC also provides citizenship classes and support to qualified residents.

If you need help with reading, writing, or speaking English give us a call today and see if we can help.

~~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~~

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We're going to be doing a 1040 raffle starting in January and running until April 14. Only 104 tickets will be available.  One winner will receive $1,040. Must be 18 years of age to enter. Click on the image to the right to purchase tickets between January 1 and April 14, 2025.
​We're holding our inaugural mini-golf Starfish "Putt A Round" for Literacy event this Saturday October 19 at Surfside Golf on Chincoteague.  18 corporate teams will be playing.
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council was recently awarded $1,100 from the United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore Community Impact Fund. The award will be used to support the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program to promote children’s literacy.
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The Eastern Shore Literacy Council announces the receipt of a $1,000 grant from Walmart’s Spark Good Local Grant through Walmart Store #4378 in Onley, Virginia.  
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council, in collaboration with the Eastern Shore Public Library System and the Eastern Shore Community College Learning Resource Center, announces a summer mystery challenge at each of the five local public libraries throughout the month of June. Participants successfully completing the word challenge at any of the five participating libraries will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate.  Complete all library challenges and be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card.
While you shop year-round your can support your community!
Your everyday purchases will be rounded up to the nearest dollar and donated collectively at the end of each month to the Eastern Shore Literacy Council.
You control how much change you want to give each month. You can adjust it
up or down anytime you want.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library's 2024 Blue Ribbon Selections (i.e., the list of books children in each age group will receive) is out. Click on the button to the right to view the selections.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library 2023 Annual Report is now out. Click on the button on the right to view it.
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council announces a $5,000 grant award from The National Home Library Foundation to support the local Dolly Parton Imagination Library book gifting initiative. This grant award will support the distribution of books each month to registered age-eligible children.
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council announces a $2,000 grant award from ProLiteracy. The grant will be used to strengthen fundraising endeavors utilizing Harness, an innovative company that since 2017 has helped more than 1,000 non-profits build sustainable revenue flows through long-term recurring giving models. 
The National Home Library Foundation has awarded the Eastern Shore Literacy Council a $5,000 grant to support the local Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. This grant award will assist in the distribution of books each month to age-eligible children, registered for the Imagination Library through the Eastern Shore Literacy Council program.
To donate online to our 2023 Annual Appeal, please click on the button to the right:
Effective July 1, Virginia will fund 50% of the costs of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.  This support will make it possible for affiliates, like the Literacy Council to reach out to more children.
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council announces the receipt of a $1,000 grant from Walmart Giving!
Eastern Shore Literacy Council Receives Grant

The Eastern Shore Literacy Council was recently awarded a ten-thousand dollar ($10,000.00) grant from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. ​
We wish to thank all the sponsors for this year's Flags for Heroes, honoring their heroes.
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Thank you Perdue for your generous $10,000 grant for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library!

Click on the logo to the right for information about the Imagination Library.
Flags for Heroes: ​Hundreds of American flags flying in the wind is a breathtaking sight. Be part of our tribute to the everyday heroes in our lives, our community first responders.  This is your chance to say “Thank You” to those who put service above self.
Click on "Download File" for a printable PDF flag order form:
2021_flags_for_heroes_flyer_and_form.pdf
File Size: 741 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Spell-Rite Auction: Thanks to everyone who supported us by bidding  on our mini online auction on biddingowl.com.  The auction is now closed.  If you missed the opportunity to bid, keep an eye out over the next couple of months for another opportunity.
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council
Presents
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
​What is Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library?
A FREE book gifting program for young children on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The Eastern Shore Literacy Council was recently awarded a three-thousand dollar ($3,000.00) grant from the Nora Roberts Foundation to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program to Eastern Shore children. 
Many thanks to all the restaurants that supported us during our 2021 Eastern Shore Restaurant Week!
Many thanks to our 2021 Power Up Literacy Awareness Project Supporters for their generous donations: United Way and ​The Walmart Community Grants program through the local store #4378!
We now have a slightly different mailing address. Our new address is:
Eastern Shore Literacy Council
29316 Lankford Hwy
Melfa, VA  23410
Save the date! ESLC's 2021 Eastern Shore Restaurant Week fundraiser is scheduled for ​May 17 thru May 23!
Spell Rite has been tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, September 25, 2021!
Our thanks to all the businesses and individuals who supported our Flags for Heroes fundraiser:
This year, our annual campaign is featuring our learner Asuman. Please read her story and contribute and/or volunteer with ESLC so we can continue supporting learners such as she.
The Literacy Council will not be open for visitors or holding any classes or tutoring sessions until further notice.
Thank you to all the restaurants that supported literacy on the Shore by participating in our 2020 Eastern Shore Restaurant Week!

Additional announcements can be found on our announcements page: 

~~THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS~~
WITHOUT YOUR GENEROSITY, THERE WOULD BE NO ESLC!