Back to School with New Ideas for Volunteering
Schools are back in – or will be soon – and students and teachers could use your assistance! There are plenty of ways to get involved, from helping out with clothing and supplies to providing academic and administrative support to preparing kids for their next steps in life.
Outfit your community.
One great way to help local children in need is to volunteer for, or donate to, a clothing drive. You can talk to your town leaders about local women and children’s shelters and other existing programs, or simply take inventory of gently used clothing that no longer fits you or your children, and bring it to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Pack them up with supplies.
School supplies can strain a working family’s budget, and a backpack drive is a great way to help. Contact school leaders to learn what’s needed and how you can help.
Help kids hit the books.
Do you have a firm grasp on a foreign language, a strong math background or a love of reading? Why not share those skills with students. Oakwood Education Foundation and Pandemic Professors are just two of the organizations recruiting online tutors for a variety of subject areas.
Get active behind the scenes.
Talk to your local school to find out how you can get involved in their Parent-Teacher Organization. You can support them actively as a volunteer or simply by being present for (in-person or virtual) meetings and sharing your ideas.
Pay your skills forward.
If you’ve earned your stripes in the classroom and on the job, now is a great time to help aspiring students and professionals take their first steps. Sign up with Spark and volunteer from home to help middle schoolers discover multiple educational and career paths. Or join the CareerVillage team to offer career advice and answer questions from high school students.
Find more virtual volunteer opportunities with the keyword “school,” “mentor” or “tutor.”
