After volunteering for one school year for the SMART program at Centennial Elementary School (Springfield, OR), I would definitely recommend the program and the school to anyone interested in volunteering. SMART is well-organized and fairly well-funded, and all volunteer help is greatly appreciated. I immediately felt welcome and needed. SMART asks each volunteer to spend one hour per week (or more!) reading to children in the program and gives each child one book per month. The SMART program can be reached at 726-3302.
As a volunteer at Centennial Elementary, I also felt welcome, needed, and appreciated. Although most of my time there was spent with the SMART students, I met many of the students, faculty, and other volunteers throughout the school. When the SMART program ended and I still needed hours for my practicum, my SMART coordinator, Jonnie, connected me to many people at the school who needed volunteers. I was glad to find a place where I knew many familiar faces and where I eventually became a familiar face.
So, to sum up my experience in the form of advice, I recommend finding a tutoring/volunteering site which recognizes its need for volunteers, and even if there is not a great need for volunteers, welcomes them with open arms regardless. I was able to fit SMART into my schedule by making it a regular part of my week, just like I would for a class or weekly meeting. SMART is convenient for people with hectic schedules because there is little to no preparation time; the program emphasizes that the time spent reading with children is the most valuable time. My experience with SMART and with Centennial was rewarding and valuable. Both the program and the school welcome volunteers with open arms, and I was able to make volunteering a part of every week for one academic school year. I plan to volunteer there next year, and I highly recommend SMART and Centennial to anyone interested in literacy, helping children, and a rewarding experience.