We are currently accepting new volunteers! Please apply here if you are interested in volunteering. Volunteers must be at 16 or older (no exceptions).
Our volunteers assist students in grades 1 - 6 with school assignments and other academics, including reading, writing, and math. We seek to foster a positive attitude toward homework and school and help our students improve their grades. Our volunteers often serve as mentors for our students, encouraging them to dream big and develop a love for learning in all areas of their lives.
We welcome volunteer support in other professional service areas, including finance, grant writing, and non-profit management. Please email us if you are interested in volunteering your skills.
Join Our Community
Many of our volunteers have been with us for years, and we always welcome new members. Whether for a short term or long term, we’d love for you to consider volunteering with us.
Make A Difference
Our organization is unique in that we work with the same students every day, often for years on end. Our volunteers have the opportunity to see children learn and progress.
Experience Something New
Vecinos Unidos provides an opportunity to work with children who are in need. Our students often look up to our volunteers as mentors and role models.
Homework Assistance Program
The VU Homework Assistance program operates during the school year every Monday through Wednesday from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Volunteers work with children in grades 1-6 for one, 90-minute session per week. You may be paired up with an individual student or with a small group of students.
A typical session looks like the following:
1. Meet your student
At the beginning of every session, we match each student with a volunteer. We rotate it up to allow students and volunteers opportunities to work with someone new. The same students return every day, so chances are you will get to work with the same student and get to see how they progress and grow. Once we pair you up for the session, students briefly have a healthy snack and chat with you to get settled in.
2. Provide academic help
Students work with a volunteer to complete their homework and materials. Volunteers are not required to be skilled! The majority of the students at VU are still learning basic reading, writing, and math.
- Help students complete math worksheets: Don’t worry if you are not confident with math. The students focus on basic counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For more advanced levels, we have plenty of volunteers on staff who are willing to help if you find your math skills are a bit rusty.
- Guide students through reading exercises: Students have daily reading worksheets to help them build and learn the fundamental skills of phonics and grammar. They also choose a library book to read for 20 minutes each day. You will help by listening as the student reads aloud, and providing guidance with comprehension and vocabulary.
- Assist students with writing: Some of the students are learning basic letters and words, whereas others are writing sentences and paragraphs. You will help students complete daily writing worksheets to learn about writing technique, such as capitalization and punctuation, as well as help them as they complete a writing prompt. Our volunteers often help by encouraging the students to complete writing prompts with proper spelling and grammar.
3. Participate in clean-up activities
At the end of each session, volunteers record updates about their time with the student in a booklet. They help ensure the student cleans up their materials until their parent or guardian arrives. At the close of each session, volunteers are encouraged to debrief with a board member to discuss how the day went. It’s a great time to chat with other volunteers and meet others in the community!
