Skilled Volunteers Needed For New Early Childhood Program

South End Community Outreach Ministries has turned a huge neighborhood need into a great opportunity for a group of skilled volunteers.

SECOM, at 1545 Buchanan St. SW in Grand Rapids, is a neighborhood service center offering emergency assistance like food pantry and also offers other support programs for families.

SECOM reports that of the 938 vulnerable children under 5 years old in the immediate neighborhood (Burton Heights), only 96 children are in programs that prepare them for school. The obstacles these children face entering kindergarten unprepared leave them fighting an uphill battle their entire lives.

Seeing this huge need, SECOM has started a reading class for preschool children and their caregivers. They are looking for 5-7 Encore team members (experienced adults) to help implement and develop a new child development program.

Volunteers are needed to assist the program teachers in directing and organizing activities, as well as offering feedback on ways to improve the effectiveness of the program.

Skilled volunteers with experience as early childhood educators, program directors or other experience working with families are strongly encouraged to volunteer. No special skills are required other than a passion for making a difference in a child’s life.

SECOM is looking for volunteers who want to help develop a new way of alleviating poverty.

Accept this challenge and you’ll be able to make a dramatic impact on the lives of children from diverse and economically disadvantaged families. The SECOM neighborhood is predominantly Latino – a recent study of the Burton Heights neighborhood reported 62% of residents’ primary language at home was Spanish.

Follow this link to sign up http://volunteercentergr.org/encore/read-me-lea-me

Learn more about SECOM at http://www.secomministries.org/