Midcoast Literacy announces the organization is moving offices this month to a new location at 1100 Washington Street in Bath’s North End. After 10 years at Wing Farm Parkway in Bath, the regional literacy non-profit will move a mile-and-a-half to a newly renovated space in the back annex of Grace Episcopal Church at the corner of Washington Street and Edwards Street. Parking for the new location is off Edwards Street. The move will be completed by the end of June, but the organization’s new offices will remain closed to the public until applicable restrictions put in place by the state for the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted.

“This summer is the right time for a move, “says Don Lader, Midcoast Literacy’s Executive Director. “While we’ve been glad to rent space from Midcoast Maine Community Action for many years, the new location gives us a larger library area with more space for tutors and learners to meet with each other, windows in every room, and greater flexibility in use of meeting room space for trainings and gatherings.” Midcoast Literacy has continued to operate and provide services by distance learning over the past three months while their offices have been closed to the public due to the pandemic. “With the perseverance of amazing tutors, we’ve been able to keep more than half our learners progressing during social distancing,” says Lader. “A bigger worry has been the drop in donations due to the economic downturn. We hope opening this new space will energize donors from Bath and beyond to support literacy in our Midcoast region.”

Midcoast Literacy intends to open their offices to the public in some capacity by mid-July. “We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the new space, holding tutor trainings for new tutors, and hosting tutoring sessions,” says Lader, “but the safety of our staff, tutors, and learners comes first.” In the meantime, adults interested in becoming tutors and people interested in signing up for free tutoring services for themselves or for their school-age children should call 207-443-6384 or go to www.midcoastliteracy.org

Midcoast Literacy is a non-profit organization based in Bath that has been providing free literacy programs to people of all ages in Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and northern Cumberland counties for nearly 50 years. Through a wide range of Family Literacy and Adult Literacy programs, the dedicated staff and volunteers strive to help children and adults develop their literacy skills, so they can succeed through all stages of life. For more information or to support literacy by making a donation, visit www.midcoastliteracy.org