“Making a difference, one child at a time!” is the message and commitment from South Kingstown C.A.R.E.S.  This non profit organization trains volunteers to help students in SK schools and has been in existence for 10 years.  It was born of the realization that one of the key components to school improvement includes parental and community involvement….hence….SK CARES with over 370 volunteers annually who spend over 100 hours per day in SK schools was created.  This is one of the reasons students in South Kingstown are thriving.  SK CARES elicits and effectively utilizes community resources that foster academic success within the schools environment. It has four main programs:

MENTORING- Mentors and mentees meet once per week on school grounds to simply “be friends”, play games, shoot hoops, hang out and share their lives.  Help with academics is also encouraged.

CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERING- Volunteers encourage the success of students by giving individual attention and help in the classroom or offering a special skill or talent.  Volunteers can work with one or more teachers by spending a few hours each week in their classroom.

HOMEWORK CLUB-  A quiet location in each of the 4 elementary schools and 2 middle schools is provided for students to complete their homework with the support of a CARES volunteer.  This homework club meets twice per week for one hour and has a ratio of volunteer to student of no more than 1:3.

CAREER AND COLLEGE CENTER- Volunteers maintain and organize the college and university materials that come to the high school each year.  They also manage the visits from college representatives at the high school as well as assist students with scholarship opportunities.

The world is moving so fast around us, but kids will always be kids and there are so many who would benefit from the time given to them by a volunteer.  There is nothing more special than to be special to a child.  South Kingstown CARES……Connecting All Resources for Educational Support…… is making a difference, one child at a time.  Interested in volunteering or learning more?  Click here.