San Bernardino Co Library - Walmart donates $1,500 to Hi Desert Adult Reading program

Walmart donates $1,500 to Hi Desert Adult Reading program
Hesperia Star: January 19, 2009 by Peter Day

One of the area's most generous donors, Walmart, made another
local gift last week. This time, Renee Jimenez, the human resources manager for Walmart Distribution Center 7833 in Apple Valley, presented $1,500 to the Hi Desert Adult Reading Experience.

Known as Hi-D.A.R.E., the program is based in the Hesperia Branch Library and provides services to help people learn or improve their reading skills.

Receiving the donation was Gerry Yniguez, a literacy specialist who runs the Hesperia program. Walmart's gift will help pay for books and special reading material.

Hi-D.A.R.E. provides free one-on-one tutoring to adults who are currently unable
to adequately use printed and written information. According to Yniguez, "learners," as they are referred, come from all walks of life.

"We have people with dyslexia, people from different countries and even some professionals," she said.

"Sometimes they get passed through," added Theresa Young, the vice-president of the coalition and herself a tutor.

Hi-D.A.R.E. is always looking for tutors who volunteer around five hours a week. After being paired with learners, they will tutor the learn two to three times a week.

Before being assigned to a learner, each tutor is assessed and trained.

"You get so much personal satisfaction," Yniguez said. "It's a wonderful program."

For more information on Hi-D.A.R.E., call Gerry Yniguez at 947-9727.