Our future is the hands of the younger generation. It will be up the current the school age population to lead our community. In one of the classroom seats in our schools sit the future mayor, a commissioner or two, police officers, firefighters, teachers, doctors, nurses, merchants, bankers, and parents. How can we, the generation who currently fill these many positions in our community, ensure the success for our future generation?
We can volunteer to be mentors, tutors, and coaches. I have included some of the agencies that would love to recruit you to work with our youth.
Reach Out and Read provides free books to at-risk youth across the KC metro. Volunteers help out by reading to children in one of 49 pediatric clinics in Wyandotte County and the KC metro, hosting book drives, assisting with special events, helping to raise funds and helping in the office. For more information contact Tasha at 913-588-0038.
Communities in Schools is recruiting volunteers to serve as tutors for students at M.E. Pearson Elementary School in KCK. Volunteers are asked to commit for the remainder of the school year and be able to meet with their students 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes a session. For more information contact Seth at 913-627-3158 or seth@cisnortheastkansas.org.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City is recruiting volunteers to be a Life Coach. Life Coach Mentors will work to help teens stay on track for high school graduation. Mentors will assist mentees with homework, tutoring, basic live skills, career exploration, life plan development and post-secondary planning. A Life Coach will meet for one hour, twice a month with the assigned mentee. A potential candidate for a Life Coach Volunteer will be interviewed, subject to a background check and provided a two hour training prior to being matched with club member. For more information on you can become a Life Coach contact Chandra at 816-361-3600, ext 248 or at cclark@helpkids.org.
The Urban Scholastic Center wants to recruit volunteers to serve one hour a week in one of two schools in Wyandotte County, Hazel Grove or Mark Twain. Volunteers are assigned to a classroom and work with students identified by the teachers. The focus is on improving literacy. Background checks are required and sexual abuse prevention training is provided. For more information, please contact Alex at 913-281-9828 or alexpmathew@gmail.com.
For more information on how you can give, advocate and volunteer contact me at 913-371-3674 or at dhentges@unitedway-wyco.org. You can also find more opportunities by checking out our website at www.unitedway-wyco.org.
Diane Hentges is director of the Volunteer Center/RSVP, at the United Way of Wyandotte County.