Our Story

It is incredible how one small idea can grow into something extraordinary. READ Lakeland, Inc. is rooted in the belief that we all have an inherent responsibility to make a meaningful difference in our community. We were Founded in 1995 to fill a need for Adult Schools in the city. Many applicants did not have the expected literacy levels when applying; tutoring is expensive and often out of reach for many would-be students. We built this program to fill the gap in our community, teaching basic literacy skills to adult nonreaders and promoting adult literacy. We offer one-to-one tutoring and small group instruction to an estimated 24% of adults in Lakeland who are functioning at the lowest literacy levels. We help those who cannot read medical instructions, fill out an employment application, or read a simple story to a child. With over 100 volunteers, we offer FREE tutoring and services to those wanting to improve their skills.

Since our founding almost 30 years ago, we have been proud to witness how our activities have benefitted the Lakeland community and beyond. Want to take part? Please contribute to our work by donating or volunteering today.