-Money to help South Okanagan Similkameen Literacy Now program-

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 21, 2009-

By Karen KnelsenrnOsoyoos Times

School District 53 received a grant of just over $30,000 from the provincial government on Jan. 14.
The money is earmarked by the government for literacy support and Jim Insley, assistant superintendent for the district, said the cash is actually being funnelled back into the communities the district serves through the South Okanagan Similkameen Literacy Now program.
What we're trying to do is draw attention to literacy at all levels, Insley said. We're trying to hit all ranges.
The program is co-ordinated by Caroline Pennelli who said she is happy to receive the money.
While she doesn't yet know exactly how each penny will be applied, she's definitely got some plans for it.
Family Literacy Day is coming up on Jan. 24 and to celebrate and bring awareness to the issue of literacy, program members are planning a big event at the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre in Penticton and Pennelli said some of the money will definitely go toward that event.
But she's got more than one project on the go.
Pennelli is also in the midst of developing a Literacy Directory, which will be a comprehensive guide to literacy services for anyone who lives in the Okanagan Valley.
And there are two program subcommittees she said could also use the extra cash.
The first is aimed at health and literacy and will eventually include the development of an initiative called Ask Me Three, which is aimed at helping patients who struggle with literacy to better understand and manage their health and treatment programs.
Ask Me Three is centred on a card that can be carried in the wallet. The card contains three questions patients can ask their physician to help them gain a comprehensive but simple understanding of their condition without having to sort through pages of printed information.
The other subcommittee is working on an adult workplace literacy program which Pennelli said partners with CUPE, WorkZone and Service Canada.
School District 67 also received provincial cash for literacy projects, a grant of $51,007, and Pennelli said that school district has also donated $30,000 to the Literacy Now program.
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