RSVP School Buddies

Sponsored by: United Way of Chittenden County
Executive Director: Gretchen Morse
Program Director: Trish Shabazz
Contact: Patti Meyer

RSVP School Buddies is a program for volunteers age 55 and older who are matched with elementary school children whom teachers have identified as not meeting the current academic standards. Volunteers are asked to serve 1-2 hours per day, 1-2 times per week for an entire school year. RSVP School Buddies serve at the school site and are supervised by a classroom teacher. Volunteers may assist children with reading, math, spelling, or other academic areas. In the past year, 32 volunteers served 223 children at 9 sites providing over 1,700 hours of service.

First Year of operation: 1998
Minimum age for mentor: 55
Minimum time commitment: 1 hour/week
Minimum length of commitment: one school year