10 Things You Can Do to Help Children
These are some of many ways you can help children in Santa Fe. Pick one or two. You’ll be glad you did. 1. Volunteer At School. Santa Fe Public Schools needs volunteers to help with administrative responsibilities, student activities, and as mentors and tutors. Inquire at your child’s school; contact Sabra Romero, Volunteer Coordinator, saromero@sfps.k12.nm.us, (505) 467-2024, or visit the volunteering page on the Santa Fe Public Schools' website for ideas. 2. Give To Partners In Education. This nonprofit, independent organization links the community -- individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies -- with all publicly funded elementary and secondary schools, including charter schools, the New Mexico School for the Deaf, the Santa Fe Indian School and Santa F Public Schools. Donations go to teacher grants for innovative classroom programs; a supply warehouse where teachers “shop” for free; Teachers Who Inspire awards; teacher scholarships; ArtWorks, which provides artist-led workshops for elementary students and teachers; and their field trips program, listed above. Visit the Partners in Education website. 3. Support Classroom Programs. Donations to Dollars 4 Schools Santa Fe, administered through the Santa Fe Community Foundation, goes to specific classroom projects and projects in the Santa Fe Public Schools. Browse the “Program List” on the website to find a project you’d like to support, donate to a specific school, or make a general donation. 4. Feed A Child.The Food Depot, northern New Mexico’s food bank, recently revamped its Food 4 Kids program, to provide supplemental nutritional to more children more often. Students across the district receive vital nutritional building blocks through school-based and mobile pantries, snack packs, after-school meals, nurse boxes and other services. To donate or volunteer, call (505) 471-1633 x115 or go to The Food Depot's website. 5. Be A Big. A Big Brother or Big Sister spends a few hours, a couple of times a month, with a boy or girl who needs the friendship of a caring adult. For people with less available time, the BBBS school-based program needs volunteers to spend about an hour a week with a child at school, eating lunch, playing on the playground, reading books or working on a class project. Go to Big Brothers Big Sisters or call (505) 983-8360 for more information. 6. Sponsor A Field Trip. The Partners in Education Foundation offers teachers bus transportation for one in-town field trip per school year, to museums, libraries, El Rancho de las Golondrinas, the Lensic Performing Arts Center, organic farms, the Roundhouse and many more exciting educational destinations. Your donation of $100 pays for one in-town field trip, and a portion of an out-of-town trip. To sponsor one or more field trips for this school year, please call Partners in Education, (505) 474-0240, or donate online here. 7. Buy School Supplies and Uniforms School supply donations still needed for students in Santa Fe schools. Donate to Partners in Education, Adelante, or directly to a school counselor or teacher who will distribute them to children who need them. School supply items needed include:
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8. Volunteer At A Community Program. Santa Fe has a wide range of organizations and services supporting children and families. Comb the pages of Tumbleweeds for one that catches your eye, and ask how they can use you on an ongoing or occasional basis.
9. Call On Your Boss. Ask your employer to match charitable donations to a local nonprofit or provide comp time for volunteering. Organize a food, clothing or book drive at your job site.
10. Pay Attention To Children. Last, but not least. Ask the teenage bagger at the grocery store how his or her day is going. Hold the door for a parent pushing a stroller. Smile, make eye contact, and actually engage with children when you see them. You will benefit as much as they will.
9. Call On Your Boss. Ask your employer to match charitable donations to a local nonprofit or provide comp time for volunteering. Organize a food, clothing or book drive at your job site.
10. Pay Attention To Children. Last, but not least. Ask the teenage bagger at the grocery store how his or her day is going. Hold the door for a parent pushing a stroller. Smile, make eye contact, and actually engage with children when you see them. You will benefit as much as they will.