It happened again.
I discovered something very inspirational in what would have otherwise been just another mundane shopping experience, proving to me that life continues to show its magic and possibility in even the most unlikely of ways.
I spent the morning cleaning the ol’ homestead and needed a new broom and mop to finish the job, so I hopped on my clunky 3-speed bike and headed out to grab a bite to eat and enjoy what’s left of the waning summer weather.
The elementary school across the street from my house has been closed for well over a year, but as of yesterday it is once again alive with the sounds of kids reveling in afternoon recess. I smiled as I watched them running around the field and in and out of playground sets. Ah, those were the days! Even now as I type this, I can hear them. Those sounds do take me back, but I digress…
I ended up at a Dollar General. I always joke that it’s called that because unlike most “dollar stores,” wherein everything really is only a dollar, their prices are, eh, generally a dollar. I was in the mood for some chocolate and grabbed a Hersey bar. Sitting next to those, under a big, bright “NEW ITEM” label were Dollar General-brand candy bars. Not too special in the grand scheme of things, but it was what was printed on their labels that caught my eye:
“100% of the proceeds go to Dollar General Literacy Foundation“
As you could imagine, that made me smile from ear to ear! I had no clue that such an organization existed and I said something to the store manager about it. That’s when he gave me a brief story of how the founder of Dollar General was illiterate yet a huge believer in education and learning how to read. He then pointed to collection boxes next to the registers. He explained that on any given week he collects maybe $5. That’s not a lot, but when you take into account that Dollar General has over 10,000 stores in 40 U.S. states, the impact becomes clear.
$5 x 10,000 stores x 52 weeks a year= $2.6 million dollars for literacy programs.
That is freaking awesome!
I wanted to verify the story and started searching about this man. What I would discover made me appreciate the labors of hard work and overcoming obstacles.
James Luther (J.L.) Turner’s father died in an accident in 1902 when J.L. was only 11. J.L. would have to quit school so he could work the family farm and help provide for his mother and siblings; he never completed his education. As a direct result, J.L. was functionally illiterate but he knew that his limited education demanded that he become a quick study of the world around him. During the Depression, J.L. began buying and liquidating bankrupt general stores. His only child, Cal Turner Sr., accompanied his father to these closeouts at a young age, gaining valuable business knowledge and skills. He would open J.L. Turner & Son in Scottsville, Kentucky in 1939. The idea of a store where no item would cost more than one dollar became a success and the first Dollar General opened in 1955.
According to the DGLF Mission Statement, “Dollar General’s commitment to literacy is an integral part of the company’s culture. In fact, Dollar General’s co-founder, J. L. Turner, was functionally illiterate when he started the company.
Dollar General believes learning to read, receiving your GED, or learning the English language is an investment that opens doorways for personal, professional, and economic growth. That is why our commitment to literacy remains strong. It is the one gift that no one can take away- the one gift that lasts a lifetime.”
The Foundation provides literacy grants which award funding to local non-profit organizations that provide adult educational services in basic education, GED, and English language acquisition; and family grants which provide parenting classes and Parent and Child Together Time (PACT) programs.
Beyond Words: The Dollar General School Library Relief Program, administered by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), benefits public school libraries recovering from major disasters. The fund provides grants for books, media, and equipment that support learning in a school library environment.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and non-profit organizations to help students who are below grade level, or who are experiencing difficulty reading by implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs, purchasing new technologies and equipment to support literacy initiatives, and purchasing books, materials, or software for literacy programs as well as enhanced summer reading programs.
In May 2012, the DGLF awarded more that $6.4 million in grants to support literacy across the U.S. including renewed support for the Chicago-based “The American Dream Starts at your Library” program. As of last week, the DGLF has awarded more than $2 million in grants to 564 schools nationwide.
All of this goes to show that learning disabilities don’t have to stop you from achieving your dreams, and that there are numerous programs out there to help. Illiteracy is nothing to be ashamed of and is easily overcome with the right attitude and guidance.
As I sign off to the sounds of schoolchildren playing, I see the first buses pulling up to take them home. My hopes are that their imaginations and their minds are filled with dreams and aspirations of a bright future. Should they need it, I am overjoyed that this program exists and I will be looking at ways in which I can become involved. I encourage all of you to do the same.
For more about the Foundation and ways to help in your community, click the graphic below:
©2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro/
Deep Forest Productions
