New nonprofit supports literacy efforts in Deschutes County

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A new non-profit organization has formed in Bend. Introducing Supporters of Literacy in Deschutes County (SOLID). SOLID is 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation formed in early 2020. SOLID was formed as a grant-making organization, although in response to Governor Brown’s COVID-19 directives, it has since expanded its community outreach offerings.

SOLID’s original goal remains: to distribute at a minimum $30,000 in annual grants to Deschutes County literacy-focused non-profits and school districts. 

To help schools, SOLID plans to make small classroom grants to teachers, fund specialized training for teachers who work with children with specific learning disabilities and support other initiatives that help children, tweens and teenagers become literate and "numerate."

SOLID also has volunteers with experience in providing literacy tutoring and plans to offer one-on-one and group goal-oriented literacy and numeracy programs for adults. This mentoring will be offered at no cost to members of the community.

SOLID’s website is literacyindeschutes.org

Without a “SOLID foundation” in reading and math, it's nearly impossible for members of Deschutes County to earn a living wage, complete a job application, get a driver's license, register to vote, etc.  SOLID’s goal is to eliminate these barriers so that all who live here can thrive and achieve their goals. The higher the literacy rate, the stronger the community. 

SOLID was formed by former members of the Friends of the Bend Libraries (FOBL) after the Deschutes Public Library’s board president encouraged all five of its "Friends" groups (La Pine, Sunriver, Bend, Redmond and Sisters) to dissolve. Fundraising for the DPL has moved to its Foundation. SOLID supports the DPL's mission and its parallel efforts to encourage literacy in Deschutes County.

Previously, FOBL volunteers collected books and other items donated by the public and held quarterly book sales, the proceeds of which went to the DPL.  As FOBL’s Book Sales team continued to experience successful book sales, we decided our public service was too important to be abandoned. Thus, this group formed SOLID.

Until March 2020, SOLID's Book Sales and acceptance of “physical donations” were held in an empty modular classroom, located on the grounds of Ponderosa Elementary School. SOLID is currently unable to hold book sales, as the school is closed and Governor Kate Brown's Executive Order #20-12, which we fully support, has ordered Oregonians to Stay At Home: Save Lives.

In the meantime SOLID’s website offers multiple blogs about how parents/guardians/siblings, etc. can teach young children to read at home. https://literacyindeschutes.org/blog/  SOLID is adding new blogs each week. They offer very "hands-on" tips for teaching phonics, identifying various symptoms of learning disabilities, helping a child "learn to learn" and related topics.

SOLID wants to make the community aware of our efforts to increase literacy rates in Deschutes County. We’re seeking input on what will be most helpful to residents. Those with input are encouraged to contact info@literacyindeschutes.org, toby@literacyindeschutes.org or bill@deschutes.org for more information or offer suggestions on how to help those in our community "up their game" with reading and math. If you have any questions, please contact us. We welcome your ideas and suggestions.

SOLID hopes to hold its next book sale on July 25-26, but it's uncertain that we will be able to do this. In the meantime, we are willing to accept donations of high-quality children’s books, which will be donated to families in Deschutes County who can’t afford to buy them.  We welcome children’s books in both English and Spanish.