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Want to feel young again? How about looking at the world through the eyes of a child? You can find a fresh perspective and enrich your own days by sharing a child’s life, interests and experiences. Several programs in the Lubbock Independent School District (LISD) are structured to let you get to know children one on one as you also help them to be more successful in school. You can share your life and your personal knowledge of events that have shaped their world. 
Children may also benefit from getting to know you as an older person. Years ago, one of our volunteers worked closely with a group of third graders. She also delighted in having a face full of beautiful wrinkles—character lines that professional photographers liked to photograph for award-winning pictures. One day, after one of the little boys felt very comfortable with her, he sidled up to her, put his finger on her face, and said, “Miss Thelma, when did your face CRACK?” This little boy had never been around anyone with wrinkles before, and had no idea what they were. His grandmother was probably in her 40’s. How enlightening was his experience with a true senior citizen!

Most any elementary school within a few blocks of your home would love to have you work with a teacher and help an individual child to read better. In many cases, our young people get behind in school and need a bit of extra attention to catch up with their peers. The time you spend with them can also help to build their self-confidence and self-esteem and show them that “character counts” in this world. A few schools have some special programs that would certainly appreciate you.

Bayless Elementary, 58th and Avenue U, has the Rockin’ Readers program especially for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders to read library books to volunteers. You will meet with a child for 20-30 minutes and help him/her read a library book and discuss it. Your volunteer schedule will be worked out according to your desires with the individual classroom teacher. One of our RSVP members is so enthusiastic about this program that she has agreed to have a short training session at Bayless Elementary at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 22nd so that she can share some of her experiences with those who might be interested. You don’t have to commit yourself, just come and listen!

McWhorter Elementary, 2711 First Street, has the HOSTS (Help One Student to Succeed) program in which volunteers mentor 1st through 5th grade students individually in reading and language arts. The HOSTS teacher will provide any necessary training to volunteers at an initial orientation session. HOSTS is particularly seeking people just like you who are stable in their lives and can provide that grounding and individual focus the students need. Currently 60 students have signed up for the program, but there are not enough mentors. The meetings between mentor and student take place in the HOSTS center at the school Monday through Friday at your convenience. All you have to do is show up at a time you select and the educational information for the student is provided to you for that 40-minute work session. This is very rewarding work—just ask any HOSTS’ volunteer!

Shalom Readers Homework Resource Center and Enrichment Program, 20th and Avenue T (Asbury United Methodist Church), is a community outreach after school program for students at Dupre Elementary school from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers may provide tutoring, reading enrichment opportunities, assistance in completing homework assignments, music and dance instruction and serve a healthy afternoon snack. There will also be time for fun and educational games. You may serve in whatever manner you choose in this varied and interesting program of activities.

And, if you would like to help children but not be with children, consider volunteering your clerical skills in the office of the Early Childhood Intervention/DEBT Program in the LISD Administration Building, just east of Q on 19th Street. The volunteer would do patient chart filing, letters on the computer (standard form letters) and other clerical tasks any morning of the week but Monday. They open at 8:00 a.m., but are certainly flexible as to the day and time that you would like to work.

To volunteer, or for more information about these or other volunteer positions, please call the RSVP office at 742-2423.

HOW do I join RSVP?
Becoming a member of RSVP is simple as long as you are at least 55 and have some time to volunteer. Just call the office at 742-2423 and chat with Ronda Casey or Bonne Phillips about your interests. If you are not certain what you would like to do, we can mention several current volunteer opportunities and send you a list of the sort of jobs which RSVP members are presently doing to whet your appetite. If you have a special skill or talent that you would like to utilize, we will search to find just the right job for you. Just mail in the enrollment form (requires Adobe Reader) and we will call you!