CIS program needs adult volunteers for new school year

If you could spend a few hours a week and have an impact that would last a lifetime, would you? The children of Brunswick County need your help.

Communities in Schools of Brunswick County Inc. (CIS) provides an adopt-a-school and volunteer program for Brunswick County Schools to enhance the quality of education by bringing the community and its resources to children.

Through business, church, agency and civic group partnerships brokered for each individual school, CIS helps schools in their effort to provide a better education for children of Brunswick County.

Individual volunteers are recruited and trained to work one-on-one with children and to help schools in other areas of identified need. The community benefits by receiving a chance to become involved in the education of its children, a better prepared workforce, increased civic cooperation, and responsible, nurtured individuals who will continue to grow to become leaders and productive citizens.

Teachers, students and families feel the positive impact of community involvement and each individual’s service. In return, volunteers see the impact of their involvement as it makes a difference in the lives of our children and in the future of Brunswick County.

Some of the ways in which volunteers are needed to work with children and schools are: tutoring one-on-one, reading or listening to a child read, joining a child for lunch as a Lunch Buddy, participating in career day as a speaker, proctoring a test, helping with school fundraisers, office assistance, classroom assistance, working on special projects and serving on school committees. Volunteer opportunities vary from school to school and in the amount of time required, but all schools welcome community involvement.

The first step to volunteering is to attend one of the two-hour volunteer orientations. There volunteers will learn about more specific ways of volunteering, communication skills, math strategies, schools rules and policies for volunteers, and who to contact at each school.

Each participant will also be required to complete an application and a criminal background check. Once the background check is approved, the school(s) in which they indicated an interest will contact the volunteers.

Learn about CIS and how to make a difference in the life of a child by volunteering. Volunteer orientation locations and dates:

Shallotte area: Sept. 3 at Union Elementary School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Southport area: Sept. 5 at Southport Elementary School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Calabash area: Sept. 8 at Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Shallotte area: Sept. 12 at Shallotte Middle School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Waccamaw/Ash area: Sept. 15 at Waccamaw School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Supply area: Sept. 17 at Supply Elementary School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Bolivia area: Sept. 22 at Bolivia Elementary School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Bolivia area: Sept. 24 at Virginia Williamson Elementary School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Shallotte area: Sept. 26 at Shallotte Middle School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Leland area: Sept. 30 at Leland Middle School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Southport area: Oct. 1 at South Brunswick Middle School; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

Supply area: Oct. 3 at Brunswick County Academy; morning training at 8:30 a.m.

For more information, call the CIS Adopt A School and volunteer office at 754-9536.