Gaston Literacy Council, Inc.

What a beautiful afternoon! 🎉 Last Tuesday, we gathered for our annual Reading Soul Mates Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, and it was a celebration to remember.

We were honored to present the inaugural David Layton Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award to Dick Ruhlman. Dick's dedication to our Reading Soul Mates students and families embodies everything this award stands for. We are so grateful for him! It was extra special as the Layton family was able to attend, and their friendship goes back many years!

We also took a moment to celebrate our incredible Merry Deely as she steps into a well-deserved retirement. Merry has poured her heart into this work for years, and her impact on literacy in our community will be felt for a long time to come. We wish her all the joy and rest in the world! 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported our mission, and made this day so special. Here's to many more years of changing lives through literacy!

We love our The Rotary Club of Gastonia friends!

For the last two years one of our club’s ongoing service projects was supporting the Gaston Literacy Council, Inc.‘s amazing Reading Soulmates program. Yesterday we were honored by a thoughtful and joyous celebration of not just our club’s contributions, but all of the wonderful volunteers who contribute to Reading Soulmates and the other fantastic programs this council offers to our community. Thank you for inviting us to be a part of this organization and we can’t wait to start year three!

What an incredible day at our 18th Annual Meet the Author Luncheon! 💙📚

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate the power of literacy and community. From the meaningful conversations to the generosity shown through our silent auction and donations, the day was a beautiful reminder of why this work matters so much.

A special thank you to our wonderful guest author, Sarah McCoy, for inspiring us with her words and presence. We’ve received so many compliments about how engaging and memorable she was! And to our closing speaker, Mr. Justin Beam, principal at Sherwood Elementary School, thank you for sharing your firsthand perspective on the impact of Reading Soul Mates in our schools.

We were also honored to recognize Lucille Rinehart with the Phil Ritter Leadership Award. Her dedication, thoughtfulness, and heart for our mission truly embody the spirit of this recognition.

Because of your support, we can continue empowering children and adults across Gaston County through literacy, helping them build confidence, connection, and opportunity.

Thank you for being part of this special day!

We are incredibly grateful for our partners and friends at the Gaston Community Foundation, Inc. Their support helps make our work possible.

Education changes lives and strong partnerships make it possible. 💚

Through our partnership with Gaston Literacy Council, we’re helping individuals build essential skills in reading, writing, math, and more, empowering them for brighter futures. Gaston Literacy Council provides free tutoring and educational programs for adults and youth, helping community members gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

Together, we’re strengthening our community one learner at a time.

We had such a joyful time celebrating Easter with our GLC community! 🐣🌸

From laughter-filled moments to our (very popular!) Easter punch game, it was a day full of connection, smiles, and sweet surprises.

At Gaston Literacy Council, we believe moments like these matter—because when people feel connected and supported, confidence grows… and that’s where learning begins 💙

🐰💐 Breaking news from the Easter Bunny… 💐🐰

I’ve hidden eggs, eaten way too much chocolate, and now I’m hopping straight to the GLC Meet the Author Luncheon on April 22nd. And trust me, you’ll want to follow my trail!

Why? Because there’s a one-of-a-kind, absolutely gorgeous piece of original art by local artist, Cam Tracy, up for bidding… and even I considered trading my entire carrot stash for it. 🥕🎨

So hop on over and get ready to bid like a bunny on espresso because this beauty deserves a great home (and I’ve already got a burrow full of decor).

Don’t miss it… or I might just sn**ch it up myself. 👀🐇

Become a Reading Soul Mate, and you'll get notes like this one. It says, "I love you techr. You are the best techr ever. I love you. I love win you let me red with you. I love you, techr. I dont no your name and I love you." 😂❤️

We're transforming lives one child at a time.

We had the great pleasure of presenting a program at The Rotary Club of Gastonia yesterday. Imagine our surprise at seeing the lyrics to the song of the day, "School Days", had been changed to mention our Reading Soul Mates program! Thank you for inviting us and allowing us to share the importance and mission of RSM. And thank you for the many volunteers your club provides to this program. We're transforming lives one child at a time!