Volunteer Program Descriptions

Project GIFT, Green Park Initiativ= es for Family Togetherness, is an after-school tutoring program= now in its seventh year at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Through the use of volunte= ers, the program goals are to strengthen student achievement, parenting skills, = and parent-child communication of the culturally diverse population of children= and parents who live in the = Green Park community. It = also helps to pull the community together.

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The = H.E.A.R.T. Center aims to meet= the many needs and interests of all family members, from all cultural backgroun= ds, focusing on families in the Long View area. Operating from two side-by-side apartment in the Hilltop complex in Long View, the center welcomes anyone. = An employee is available throughout the week during open hours and for events taking place on weekends. All services are free of charge.

H.E.A.R.T. offers after sch= ool tutorial for students on the campus of Longview School.

Volunteer opportunities = include:

· Be a reading buddy

· Tutor a child

· Help an adult work on attaining a GED certificate

· Help with “Help With Homework”

· Plan and carry out a theme party for H.E.A.R.T. participants (Hall= oween, Easter, Etc)

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Help One Student To Succeed is a structured tutoring program for elementary students that pairs a stude= nt who needs help in reading with a community volunteer as a mentor. A mentor works with the same stude= nt each week on materials and activities prepared by the HOSTS instructor to target specific skills. The m= entor provides feedback to the student and the HOSTS instructor on performance.

This program is offered at Longview Elementary and Southwest Elementary.

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Grandview= Middle School uses a modified version of the Howard Street Tutoring Model as an intervention strategy to assist struggling readers in improving their reading fluency and reading comprehension. Volunteers work one-on-one with st= udents who are at least one year behind in their reading skills.

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The Project Potential scholarship program is designed for young people who may not see a bright and successful future ahead of them due to circumstances beyond their control. The goal of Proje= ct Potential is to identify students early enough to make a difference. It is aimed at 8th graders who show potential for higher achievement, but may not make it without help. Most of the students chosen are first generation college-bound and for many, first generation hi= gh school graduate. <= /span>

This program is unique because every student is matched with a mentor from the community who encourages and guides them through their high school years. Mentors serve as an advisor, an advocate, and a role model for the students. Our mentors are the reason we have success stories. Offering a monetary incentive to graduate and pursue higher education is admirable, but long term. Short term, we rely on = the caring of individuals from our community. Mentors volunteer their time and their talents, and share a piece of their heart. Knowing someone cares, is the key to success for these students. They provide additional support to parents by encouraging stud= ents to complete a high school education; which will enable students to pursue higher educational opportunities.= Project Potential boosts pride and self-esteem through student accomplishments. It provides incentives f= or setting goals for the future, and has proven successful. =

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