“One-on-one mentoring via the Lunch Buddy program creates an opportunity to inspire a student,” said a Lake Washington School District LINKS volunteer about their experience with the grant-based program with funding provided by the Lake Washington Schools Foundation.

The Lake Washington School District LINKS program is now recruiting caring community volunteers who are interested in helping students to be successful in school. Last school year, 258 volunteers shared their time in classrooms; worked one-on-one with kids on math, writing or reading; tutored middle school students; and served as Lunch Buddies to children that needed a positive role model.

Sharing time in a school is something co-workers can do together during their lunch time. It is an opportunity for retirees to engage in their community by giving back and sharing their knowledge. Volunteering through LINKS takes just one hour each week.

A past volunteer commented, “This has been a very satisfying experience for me because I can see how my time with selected students has added to the learning they do with the teacher in the classroom.”

Another volunteer shared, “I was working with a struggling fifth-grade speller and the first time he got 100 percent on his weekly test, he said to me, ‘I feel like I can do anything. I feel so good about myself.’”

The LINKS program offers volunteers support throughout the school year, including helpful training sessions, volunteer social events and an end of year celebration.

All new volunteers are required to attend a volunteer orientation, complete a volunteer application and be approved before beginning their volunteer service in a school. Upcoming orientation dates are listed on the LINKS website at: http://www.lwsd.org/For-Community/Volunteers/LINKS/Pages/Volunteer-Orientation-Training.aspx. To register for an upcoming orientation, email Nanci Wehr at nwehr@lwsd.org or call (425) 936-1410.