7 Ways to Impact Early Childhood Education by Volunteering

United Way fights to empower every child to succeed in school and life. We do this by working with a network of community agencies and initiatives, including those that address challenges affecting educational opportunity for our community’s youngest minds.

 

How can you help? By volunteering with our partners!

 

Volunteers for childhood education have a proven impact. You can be a mentor, role model and trustworthy figure for a student in need. Here are some great volunteer opportunities in the Charlotte region for you and your friends, family and colleagues to join:

 

 

Read with students.

 

Union County Public Schools needs reading buddies like U! The Read with U program pairs volunteers with first-grade students to spend 30 minutes reading with them each week.

 

You will become an important role model to a child, with opportunities to volunteer at elementary schools including East Elementary, Benton Heights, Walter Bickett, Sardis, Marshville, Wingate, Rocky River or Rock Rest.

 

 

 

 

 

Provide homework help.

 

The Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County and the Charlotte Area Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club work every day to uplift youth in our community. The Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County needs after-school program volunteers for the 2019-20 school year, as well as volunteers for Devouring Power Hour (a tutoring/homework help program).

 

The Salvation Army Charlotte Area Boys & Girls Club also needs volunteers for their Stuff the Bus initiatives that collect school supplies for students in need.

 

 

 

 

Organize classroom supplies.

 

Classroom Central works to distribute school supplies to teachers in need. Their service ensures that every child is equipped to succeed.

 

The organization has volunteer opportunities tailored for both individuals and groups like stocking supplies, die cutting and administrative help.

 

 

 

 

Create bookworm letters.

 

Promising Pages uplifts 60,000 at-risk Charlotte-area children with the power of reading. The organization has distributed more than 540,000 books through their 90 social service partner organizations.

 

The Promising Pages Operations Center is seeking volunteers to count, clean, stamp, sort and write bookworm letters of encouragement to Title I school students.

 

 

 

 

Tutor young scholars.

 

YWCA Central Carolinas’ Youth Learning Centers maintain their focus on literacy, parent engagement, character development and cultural enrichment to provide holistic education in their summer and after-school programs.

 

The programs have feeder schools from both Mecklenburg and Union counties, serving more than 300 students. Volunteers are needed for reading and tutoring.

 

 

 

Boost childhood literacy.

 

YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s Y Readers program works with students reading below grade level to catch them up to their peers during a six-week summer camp.

 

The program has proven results – 71 percent of students met, exceeded or approached growth expectations for the 2017-18 school year. The camp’s success depends on volunteer support, like serving as a reading buddy.

 

 

 

Assemble donation kits.

 

Looking for a way to help without leaving the office? Consider hosting a United Way kit-making event to benefit local nonprofits and schools.

 

Some ideas include STEM kits, art kits, pencil packs and more. Donation items can be ordered online through United Way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

High-quality early education programs are essential to promoting children’s development and learning into the future. Learn more about United Way’s work and find additional volunteer opportunities where you can contribute valuable time and skills in our community.