Since September, I’ve volunteered with FLOC Tuesday nights from 6-8pm tutoring a middle school student in reading and writing. While the journey has not always been a smooth one as my student and I learned one another’s boundaries and I remembered what it was like to be in middle school again, overall, it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Also, as with most volunteering, I feel like I come away learning more than I’ve given. I would recommend this organization to anyone in DC who is passionate about education and giving back to the DC community.
Are you looking for an organization to contribute either your time or money to? Here are 5 reasons you should donate one or the other (or both!) to FLOC:
- You’ve got the time. This past year was a little crazy for me as I welcomed my husband to the US from Guinea (his first time to the US!), continued my studies toward a Master of Arts in International Education and worked full-time with an environmental non-profit here in DC. All that to say that even if you’re busy – you’ve surely got a couple hours to hang out with a kid who wants to do better in school (or a few minutes to donate some money!). Volunteering with FLOC takes just a couple hours a week and it’s flexible! While I sometimes wanted to be doing something else before going to tutoring on Tuesdays, I always felt better afterwards and glad that I had come. Do you work crazy long hours but are here on the weekends? FLOC has programs on Saturday. Are you away most weekends (like me) but have a weeknight free? FLOC has after school and evening tutoring sessions. Maybe you can just commit every now and again – FLOC has you covered there, too, with substitute tutoring.
- You’ve got the means. Whether that’s a few hours to spare or $24 to purchase an SAT prep study book for a FLOC scholar, there are many ways you can give back (both of your time and monetarily).
- You’ve got the heart. It’s hard to argue with helping children get back to their grade level in reading, writing and math. Check out FLOC’s website to learn more about what they do!
- You’ve got the desire. In casually talking with friends and co-workers, so many have expressed an interest in joining a volunteer organization in the area but they haven’t found one that works for them. Maybe FLOC is for you!
- You’ve got what it takes. While I don’t know you, if you’ve stumbled across the FLOC blog or read it regularly, you’re probably pretty great! I’m sure you’ve got what it takes to give back to an organization that is doing so much for the DC community.
Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have questions (or leave your comments below!). I’d love to share more about my experience with FLOC with you and hope you’ll think today about contributing to their organization.
From Tim Payne’s email:
Follow FLOC on Facebook, Twitter, and read their blog to help spread FLOC’s key message:
In DC, poverty persists: over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The opportunity gap widens: barely 40% of secondary students are proficient in reading or math and average SAT scores put DC seniors in the lowest 20th percentile of their college-bound peers. For Love of Children (FLOC) is focused on closing this gap, 1 student at a time, and since 2006, 100% of FLOC’s high school seniors have graduated on time and all been accepted into a postsecondary institution. FLOC’s unique range of programming and curricula adapts to each student, providing consistent individualized support to over 600 students from the day they come through our doors to the day they earn their postsecondary degree.
Donate!
Minimum donation is $10
$12: Fees for processing one volunteer at FLOC
$24: SAT prep study book for a FLOC Scholar
$48: Reading materials for one year for a student in FLOC’s Neighborhood Tutoring Program
(Jennifer Bangoura is a volunteer at FLOC. A version of this story appeared on her personal blog during FLOC’s participation in the DoMore24 campaign last week).
