School Linked Programs
After-School Clubs/Programs: We support a wide variety of after school and summer programs/activities for students in Caring Communities schools, including sports programs, academic clubs, and skill-building clubs.
Parent Involvement Activities: We collaborate with school staff, PTAs, and other partners to offer activities that build connections between families and the school.
Tutoring/Mentoring: We support educational tutoring programs within our schools by recruiting and connecting volunteers to available opportunities. We recruit and help support the Lunch Buddies mentoring program within many of our schools as well. The Lunch Buddies program consists of students being paired with a caring adult buddy who comes and eats lunch with them at school one time per week. The goal of the program is to help increase self-esteem within the students and to foster a caring, nurturing relationship with their adult buddy. In addition to Lunch Buddies, we also promote mentoring programs offered by the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the YMCA, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Food for Thought Backpack Program: An Ozarks Food Harvest Program, we help implement Food for Thought in our elementary schools. Food for Thought provides a backpack filled with nutritious, easy to prepare food for students to take home each weekend during the school year.
Leadership Club: A club designed to teach students how to become leaders in their school and their communitiy. Students will learn team-buidling skills as well as engage in learning activities on various topics. They will also connect with others in their community through volunteer work.
Girltalk: This group is designed to offer support to middle school girls in a positive weekly meeting focused on building self-esterrm, positive self-image, and helping others become more empowered. It involves college students as positive role models and mentors.