More than 1,500 people in Utah County need tutors to help them with their schoolwork, according to the Alpine Life and Learning Center in Orem.
The assisted-studies program of the Alpine Life and Learning Center needs volunteers who can tutor these high school-age students and older adults working toward general education degrees.Volunteers can tutor individuals or small groups on a variety of subjects, which include but are not limited to algebra, English, social sciences and occupational knowledge classes.
The volunteer coordinator at the center, Christina Ploeger, said volunteer hours are flexible and can be scheduled anytime Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. She said the classes are basic, and that volunteers do not need an advanced degree to be a tutor.
"I love this program," Ploeger said. "It is exciting to see students improve as they become motivated and involved in their own education."
Alpine Life and Learning Center is an alternative school that helps people earn credits necessary to get a high school diploma. The program helps people who have failed classes and others who have a hard time conforming in a traditional high school setting.
Other volunteer opportunities are available throughout Utah County. Some include:
- Help severely disabled people experience college life and learn new skills. Volunteers with musical, illustration or computer skills are needed to help disabled people play simple songs on the piano, draw and learn WordPerfect 6.0. Volunteers are needed Tuesdays from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and Thursdays from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and from noon to 1 p.m.
- Can food for less-fortunate Utah County residents. Volunteers are needed to help with a humanitarian canning project. This is a great service project for groups or individuals. Volunteers may choose to can pork and beans, clean the cannery and/or label the cans. Volunteers can work any day and time from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 7-10, 14-17, 21-24 or 27-30.
- Befriend a family with a disabled child. The Easter Seals Family Friends program assigns volunteers to families with disabled children. Volunteers must be 55 or older and must be able to volunteer for three to four hours per week. In American Fork, a family needs a volunteer to come spend one or two afternoons a week with their three children. Along with a healthy 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, the family has a 3-year-old son with Down syndrome.
For more information about these and other volunteer opportunities in Utah County, call the United Way Volunteer Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 374-8108.