Volunteering Comes From the Heart

Volunteering Comes From the Heart
Posted on 06/02/2022

Volunteering Comes From the Heart
By: Christine Harper

            Throughout this school year, you have read many times that in a school district, it takes a village.  And it truly does.  From parents to teachers to secretaries to custodians and everyone in between, it takes all of us to make the system work.  The volunteers that come into our buildings to work with kids, be a mentor, help teachers, whatever role they fill are an integral part of that village.  “Those who can do, do.  Those who can do more, volunteer.”

            There are many ways someone can volunteer with Mexico Public Schools.  MPS has a great partnership with Bright Futures and through Bright Futures, there is the Lunch Buddy Program.  You can sign up to be a Lunch Buddy at any school in the district.  There is a simple application and a basic background check and you’re in.  You will then get paired with a student and at least once a month, you come and have lunch with your Lunch Buddy.  We have several Lunch Buddy volunteers that have been with their student since day one of the program and absolutely love it.  If you are interested in something like this, contact Lori at Central Office at 581-3773.

Another volunteer opportunity is the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring Program, which was just implemented this year at McMillan, Hawthorne, and Eugene Field.  This requires a little more of a time commitment on the volunteer’s part.  It is once a week for an hour, and you would be working one-on-one with a kiddo in reading.  Oasis provides the training and there is more of a background check that has to be done, but what an opportunity!  We are blessed to have had nine Oasis Tutors helping our students in reading.  If you are interested in something like this, contact Christine at Central Office at 581-3773.

Volunteering comes in many forms.  Maybe it’s helping a school’s PTO with a big fundraising event; maybe it’s donating items needed (Follow the Bright Futures Mexico Facebook page-we post need requests on it); maybe it’s a monetary donation or school supplies donation; maybe it’s volunteering your time.  Whatever it looks like for you, just know that it is appreciated by us.  You are a big part of our village. 

            Over the years, Mexico Public Schools has had great volunteers walk the halls of the buildings.  When I was at Eugene Field, I remember two special ladies, Miss Alice and Miss Helen, that many times, on particularly stressful days, I thought to myself, “I think these gals are holding this place together right now.”  LOL!  I don’t know if that’s really true or not, but those ladies could always put a smile on not only my face but everyone in the building that they came in contact with every day they were there.  They were this calming, dependable presence that just made the day better.  They never asked for anything.  They never expected anything.  They just did and with a giving heart.  It’s been many years since I’ve seen Miss Alice and Miss Helen, and I hope they are doing well.  Above all, I hope they know how much I appreciate what they did for Eugene Field.  I know our village was better because of their time spent volunteering.  I hope they thought so too.