ORANGE : Literacy Group Seeks Candy Wrappers

Sugar fiends, take note: If you eat any of 18 brands of candy or ice cream bars between now and Saturday, your sweet tooth can help the Orange Public Library’s Partners in Reading adult literacy program.

The Junior Woman’s Club of Orange is collecting candy wrappers for the 5-cent rebate that is being offered by some manufacturers as part of a special promotion.

The money will then be turned over to the library’s reading program.

The proceeds will be used to paint a mural on the outside of the literacy group’s headquarters publicizing its efforts.

“This year, we’re trying to get extra publicity so we can get the word out,” said Kerry Duff, an assistant in the reading program.

The program is designed for students 18 and over. It is currently serving about 90 people, Duff said.

“Students come to us. Maybe they see the national hot-line number on TV for literacy or friends tell them about the program. We have people from all walks of life,” Duff said.

“They all come for different reasons. Some want to read Shakespeare, some just want to get a driver’s license or a high school equivalency degree, and some want to get into the community college system.”

Officials in the program are trying to attract more volunteer tutors to work with students.

Duff said there are five students on a waiting list for assistance.

Wrappers being sought include those from Snickers, M&M;’s, Skittles, Starburst, Twix, Bounty, Munch, PB Max, 3 Musketeers, Mars, Milky Way, Combos and Dove Bars.

Collection sites are in all four of the Orange public libraries as well as at the headquarters of the literacy program.

For further information about the literacy program, call (714) 282-8916.