BATH

Imagine being the parent of a preschooler and not being able to read your child a bedtime story. Or a prescription bottle. Or fill out a job application. Or negotiate a simple website. Or read this newspaper story.

Statewide, some 150,000 adults are thought to have reading and writing deficits, some very severe. The problem usually begins with an undiagnosed learning disorder that proves to be so discouraging, the student eventually stops trying to learn. In the fairly recent past, such students were often passed on from grade to grade, and even graduated from high school, without basic literacy. Others dropped out of high school as soon as they were able. But many adults with literacy struggles want to improve their skills, especially when they have children of their own and want to help them with their own path to reading.

That’s where literacy volunteers come in. In Cumberland, Sagadahoc and Lincoln Counties, Tri- County Literacy offers programs in family literacy and adult literacy, to support and increase literacy activities in the homes of families with young children, and to help adults achieve basic reading and writing skills. There are also tutoring services for immigrants and refugees who want to improve their English language skills.

All of this worthwhile effort is done with volunteer tutors, and a tiny budget — in fiscal year 2013, the total income for the whole organization was $96,677. A good percentage of that budget will be made up this weekend, as families with children ride the Candy Cane Train.

The Candy Cane Train is an annual Christmas tradition, traveling on Maine Eastern’s vintage holiday-decorated cars between Bath and Wiscasset and back. Along the way, parents and children listen to stories, have holiday refreshments, sing Christmas songs, and meet Santa and his elves.

This year, the train runs Saturday and Sunday, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., leaving from the Bath Train Station at 15 Commercial Street. Total time for the entire trip is slightly under 90 minutes.

Tickets are still available, but some trains are getting full, so if you don’t already have tickets, order them soon. Tickets are $18 for each passenger, and can be purchased through the Tri-County Literacy website. All reservations are for “will call” tickets that will be picked up at the train station on the day of the event. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before departure, and give yourself an additional 20 minutes to find parking.