About one year ago, Erv Bradley heard about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) from a longtime SFBFS volunteer. Since retirement, Erv had been looking for a place to serve where he might be able to use his Spanish speaking skills. His wife’s friend, a volunteer in the Adult Education program at SFBFS, suggested the program to Erv, and he’s been volunteering ever since.
Erv has found that the program allows him to help a wide variety of adult students, several of whom are learning English, but the majority who are studying for their GED exam or taking community college courses and need additional help. He admires the students who have made the time in their often busy and difficult lives to come receive tutoring.
“Education is one of the many challenges facing our students,” he says. “Tutoring is just one part of helping them put their lives back together.” Erv works with students in reading, writing, and occasionally math, science, and social studies. The moment that keeps him coming back is when students finally grasp a concept they’ve been struggling with. “That’s a very satisfying feeling,” he says.