UNITED WAY IMPLEMENTS STRATEGY TO HELP GRADUATION RATES

United Way of Southeast Missouri is encouraging the community to help area students be successful in school by helping create and promote volunteer opportunities within area districts.  The United Way’s Education Solution Team has identified the importance of surrounding our youth with positive adult role models. 

"There are many people who would donate an hour of their time each week if they knew that time would change the lives of two people – themselves and the life they touch,” stated Nancy Jernigan, Executive Director of the United Way.

The United Way has been working with the Cape Girardeau Public Schools for several months to identify meaningful volunteer positions and establish the process for connecting individuals to the schools.  Once the process is tested and proven to work, the program will be spread to other schools in the Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Scott City districts.

An important partner in this collaboration is the Volunteer Intergenerational Center  who will be connecting people to specific opportunities and scheduling individuals for specific dates and times.  The Volunteer Center will also follow up with individuals to get feedback on their experience.  

Initial volunteer opportunities being promoted are:

·        Greeters that would be available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. to offer a friendly greeting to students each morning in the gymnasium or cafeteria as they wait for classes to begin and all day in front of the office to welcome and direct visitors.

·        Lunch Buddies that would be available during lunch hours from 10:20 a.m. until 12:20 p.m.

·        After-School Homework Assistants that would be available for one hour beginning at 2:45 p.m. to assist teachers with students staying for tutoring and homework assistance.

Interested individuals should call the United Way at 573-334-9634 to get more information and sign up for the program.  They will be required to complete a background check screening process and meet with the Principal of the school prior to coming in for their first volunteer assignment.

For more information, contact the United Way at 573-334-9634 or visit their website at www.unitedwayofsemo.org.  Or call the Volunteer Intergenerational Center at 573-335-7555.