Volunteer

Communities In Schools New Orleans offers many opportunities for individuals or groups to volunteer their time to help kids succeed school. Below is a sampling of opportunities:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROUPS

Many projects are available for groups of volunteers that want to work on a project together. CIS staff persons are available to help your group with planning and logistics.

• Convention and Conference Organizers/Service Opportunities
  Are you responsible for organizing a service opportunity for your New Orleans convention or conference? Communities In Schools will work with you to design a volunteer activity that fits the size of your group and your time frame. Examples might include collecting books, school supplies, and hygiene items for students, sorting donations to our "Champs Choice Store", assisting in a Reading Is Fundamental Book Distribution to elementary students, and more.
  
  Communities In Schools also encourages you to recycle your left over office supplies by donating them to the CIS Champs Choice Store for redistribution to New Orleans area public schools and afterschool programs. Our staff and volunteers will meet you at the conclusion of your event to remove these items from your hotel or conference venue.
  
  
  
  
• Job Shadow DaySponsor a Job Shadow Day at your work site. This experience allows young people to get first-hand experiences about various career opportunities. CIS can provide support for planning and implementing the activity.
  
  
• Donation Drive
  Organize your group to sponsor a book drive, school supply drive or holiday toy drive, with donated items to be distributed to students in CIS schools.
  
  
• Product Donations
  Contribute items throughout the year, such as event tickets, clothing, gift certificates, movie passes, or other non-perishable items.
  
  
• Jobs or Internships
  Provide jobs or internship opportunities to eligible students.
  
  

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS

• Guest Speakers
  Sign up to speak at one of our schools for career day, or to speak to our staff as a part of our staff development program.
  
  
• Tutors or Listeners
  Work as a reading tutor at one of our schools. You will be trained and supported by a CIS full-time staff member or AmeriCorps member. Or just sign up to come into a CIS school to listen to children read. This, too, is an important contribution to their success in school.
  
  
• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Committee
  CIS receives grant support through RIF to provide books to children at a number of CIS schools. Student at each RIF school select three books annually for their home libraries. Each RIF school needs a committee of volunteers to help choose the books; to sort new books for distribution; and to plan exciting and motivational book distribution events.
  
  
• Central Office Support
  The central CIS New Orleans office needs volunteers to help pick up and sort donations at the beginning of the school year when CIS conducts back-to-school book and supply drive, and for holiday toy drives in November and December.
  
  

For more information about how you or your group can get involved, contact Lindsay Finlayson, Volunteer Coordinatora at 504-583-0163 or lfinlayson.cisno@gmail.com.

You may also download the volunteer application and return it to CIS New Orleans by fax at (504) 486-8020 or mail to P.O. Box 792800 New Orleans, LA 70179