What's Happening at The Literacy & Learning Center

Thank you so much
for your support of TL&LC!
We are so grateful to you and hope you have a
joyous and safe holiday season!
As 2023 draws to a close, The Literacy & Learning Center has much to be thankful for. We started the year with extensive damage to our Learning Center from a frozen and burst pipe. The Highlands United Methodist Church offered their space for us to hold our programs while our building was being repaired, for which we are most grateful.

The building was fully repaired by April, and we are thankful for the local businesses such as Highlands Handyman, Highlands Decorating Center, Dave Miller Plumbing, ServePro, and our landlords, Margaret O’Donnell and Al Bolt, who volunteered their time, labor, and funding to help the center re-open.
We were honored to join the Highlands community on December 2nd for the annual holiday parade! We handed out 700 books for children from birth to fifth grade! Sponsored in part by Mountaintop Rotary, these books will bring joy and imagination to children throughout the holidays and beyond.

In addition to spreading the gift of reading, TL&LC showcased its vibrant after-school program. Students from the program proudly rode on our Holly Dolly Christmas float, waving to the crowd and spreading holiday cheer—despite the less than idea weather. Their presence highlighted the importance of education and the positive impact TL&LC has on the Highlands community.

The theme highlights our Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This wonderful program, funded by generous individual donations from our community, sends age-appropriate books to children in Macon County for free every month from birth until the child's 5th birthday. It only takes $30 to sponsor a child for an entire year! You can help grow the love of reading for the youngest readers of Macon County!
Calling all bookworms and adventurers!

Stop by the Lazy Hiker in Franklin this coming Saturday for a chance to win our Gift Basket Raffle — a treasure trove of books and goodies! 

We will give away two incredible baskets, one for the grown-up bookworms and one for the little literary explorers. Imagine cozy nights with a captivating novel or afternoons filled with whimsical stories and playful surprises – it's all waiting for you!

Lazy Hiker Brewing will be hosting the Lobster Dogs Food Truck from Asheville and live music. Come enjoy the fun!


LAZY HIKER BREWING — FRANKLIN TAPROOM
188 W. Main St.
Franklin
6 pm
Join us for a delightful Gingerbread Decorating Extravaganza!
For toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers

Calling all little artists and their eager caregivers! Join us for a fun-filled morning of storytelling and cookie decorating, where little hands can create edible masterpieces, and imaginations can soar.

Be inspired by a captivating story to spark creativity and imagination. We will provide gingerbread cookies, icing, raisins, and candies to unleash your inner artist. Enjoy this opportunity for toddlers and preschoolers to bond with their caregivers over a shared activity and perhaps even make a new friend!

Friday, December 15
11:00 AM
TL&LC
675 S 4th St.
FREE | No registration required

We look forward to sharing this special holiday treat with you and your little one!


√ Curriculum Ordered

√ Certification and Licensing Efforts Ongoing

√ Classroom Set-up in Progress

√ Curriculum Received

√ Fire Code Updates in Progress

You can help shape the future of TL&LC's pre-K program by contributing to our Amazon registry. Visit the link below to explore the items and make a meaningful difference in their education. In particular, the items that are currently at the top of our list include:




However, every purchase, big or small, brings us closer to providing a nurturing environment for these children. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to their bright futures.
The Literacy & Learning Center is proud to highlight Svitlana Klymenko, a remarkable student in our English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Svitlana exemplifies the spirit of TL&LC through her unwavering dedication to learning and her positive impact on the program.

Svitlana's journey in the US began last December, marking a new chapter in her life. Driven to escape the war in Ukraine and build a better future for her family — husband, Iurii, and their two girls, Vlada and Arina — Svitlana arrived in America with a determined heart but limited English skills. Despite facing this challenge, she has embraced the opportunity to learn with admirable enthusiasm and dedication.
IN THE NEWS