The Montgomery County Literacy Council will get an opportunity to help county residents finish their high school education.

The group recently received a $2,000 grant from the Griffin Family Foundation to provide funding for students to take the HiSET (high school equivalency test) if they are unable to secure funding elsewhere.

Alice Whalen, director of adult education and literacy at East Central College, said Clinetta Weinrich – one of the Literacy Council members – found out about the Griffin Foundation and submitted a grant proposal.

“She let them know that the Literacy Council was trying to help adults in the county finish their high school education,” Whalen said. “I guess they liked the idea. So they provided the funds that should cover about 20 high school equivalency tests. They used to be the GED tests in Missouri, but the HiSET has replaced that.”

Besides Weinrich, the other members of the Literacy Council include Luanne Andrews, Laura Burnham, Jolene Davis, Jim Guffie, Gaylee Harris, Mark Harris and Thomas Murphy. On Dec. 1, the group held a quilt raffle at Montgomery City Public Library to help raise money for scholarships for HiSET students.

“They’re all volunteers,” Whalen said. “They just have a heart for their county and the people who live there because they know how life changing this step is for an individual. They’ve gone out there recruiting volunteers for the committee.

They’ve all taken turns going out into the various communities such as Wellsville, New Florence and Jonesburg and putting up flyers for more volunteers. That helps get the word out for students. A lot of times, when our students who need their high school education, they’re not reading the newspaper. So it takes people and word of mouth to get the word out there.”

The Griffin Family Foundation is based in Mexico and was founded by Anna Margaret Griffin. The directors are Brendan Webber, Virginia Pehle, Melody Farnen, Ben Steinman and Dan Erdel.

Whalen said the GFF was helpful in providing the grant since the fee of taking the HiSet has increased.

“Back when it was the GED and it was a paper based test, the cost was $40,” Whalen said. “Now it is $100 and it’s on a computer. Having somebody donate this money for the tests not only is important, but it could change their lives. So here are the funds to pay for 20 people to take this step and finish their high school education. I think it speaks well of not only the Griffin Family Foundation, but the community that somebody is willing to invest in these individuals so they could make that life-changing step of finishing their high school education.”

The Literacy Council received its grant approval letter from the GFF on Nov. 1. The group will start using the grant money in January.

“We need to get the word out to students to say, ‘Hey, we got enough funds to help 20 of you. To pay for this test, you need to sign up for these classes,’” Whalen said. “The classes that are provided by East Central College are free, so they’ll help you prepare for that test and be able to pass it.”