FARMINGTON — A new board of directors for Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties has their work cut out for them in the coming year.

“We are taking a hard, fresh look at literally everything,” board Chairman Ken Lust said of the organization that struggled to survive through 2014.

A loss of some sources of funding caused malaise to beset the organization. There was some reluctance to continue, he said.

Along with teaching, the organization, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in Oct. 2013, needed to do more fundraising and seek grant funding.

The question of disbanding the organization arose as the financial need grew. Fundraising was more than they could handle and board members burned out, Executive Director Becky Jasch said.

The community stepped forward.

“The community response to us was good and very encouraging,” she said. “They realized our value and the need to continue.”

All but three people are new to the board. Donations have come in to keep the organization going through 2015, Lust said.

Data shows there are significant literacy needs in the county that contribute to poverty, crime and individual welfare, he said.

“We need to look at how the organization is going to address this need and how to reach students and get them to come to us,” he said.

“Our biggest challenge is getting prospective students to raise their hands and say ‘I need help,'” Lust said. “There is no magic bullet to get them to come to us.”

And, if we can’t reach them, then is the organization still viable? he asked. How many people are we really serving? How are we helping them change their lives?

The board will look at these questions and make plans during a board retreat planned for Jan. 17.

“We’ll go behind closed doors and not come out till we figure out some of this,” Lust said.

Along with funding, the board also needs to look at expenses, he said.

“It’s difficult to accept an organization that relies heavily on volunteers has a budget in excess of $20,000,” he said.

The organization lost support from the two largest of five United Way organizations that have funded the group. They both asked some fair questions that we couldn’t or chose not to answer, he said.

As a service organization, the 100 volunteers worked to help 51 students and didn’t have success stories and testimonials from them, Jasch said.

“We are working to get those stories,” she said.

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