At the Mesa West Rotary meeting July 23, I presented a service opportunity to provide virtual tutoring in reading to a 1st-3rd grader. The program is called Vello and is organized through the Valley of the Sun United Way.
The commitment would be for 30 minutes a week (you get to pick your schedule) for the school year. You are provided the tools and the training to sit and read with a child virtually - you are at the location of your choice and they are in the classroom.
We are partnering with UPS, thanks to Colleen Coons. It is anticipated that UPS will cover the $3,500 class sponsorship and also provide volunteers. Ideally, our club would provide 5-10 volunteers for the program. Partnering with UPS on this project also allows additional opportunities to apply for grant money UPS offers for future projects.
This is a perfect opportunity for a professional that has some time during the week to volunteer but can not necessarily commitment to a set time weekly, being virtual it also saves commute times that you would typically experience with volunteer activities. It is also perfect for some of our more mature club members or those who live with vulnerable people and are trying to limit exposure. Everything is done virtually so you don't have to leave the house and put on a mask to participate ;)
If you have additional questions about the opportunity you can reach out to me or Colleen. You can also visit the website: vello.org to view videos regarding the benefits of volunteering or review other information about the program.
Please email me if you are interested in reading with a kiddo for 30 minutes a week this school year! CLICK HERE to download the entire flyer.
Thank you!
Shelly Romine