Literacy Volunteers covering the Greater Valley Area is looking to expand after hiring a new director and moving into a new office at 705 S. Jennings Ave. in Lanett, Ala.

The organization serves West Point and Chambers County, Ala. It is separate from Literacy Volunteers in La-Grange.

Cherie McCain started work as the new director earlier this month. She’s a retired Chambers County schoolteacher and had worked part time in the Auburn, Ala., public library.

“I think they were looking for someone with a teaching background,” she said.

Linda Fulcher, publicity chairwoman for the group, said the organization is thrilled to have McCain on board and now wants to expand its services, offering more English classes to Hispanics, as well as Koreans moving into the area with Kia Motors.

The organization also is looking for more volunteers; it has about 14 active tutors right now.

The tutors work with adults who need help with reading and studying for their GED tests, a requirement now for most job applications. The literacy volunteers also provide materials for the “Books for Babies” program at Lanier Memorial Hospital. Each new mother receives a bag with baby and children’s books and instructions for reading to her baby. Literacy experts believe a child should be read to at least 15 minutes a day.

The literacy volunteers share space with the Chattahoochee Fuller Center and have a partnership with that organization as well.

“When every new Fuller Center house is built, we come in and put books in the bookshelves and start them a library,” McCain said.

— To volunteer or learn more about the organization, call (334) 642-7323.

Jennifer Shrader can be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.