Kristin Wilson, instructional facilitator at Joaquin Elementary School, said in spite of the fact that there are so many active church members surrounding the school, Joaquin still needs as many volunteers as they can get.

"We can take as much time as they have to offer, or as little as an hour a week," Wilson said. "We are absolutely flexible."

The Joaquin School, just south of BYU campus, is a Title I school, meaning a lot of the kids who attend there come from low-income, immigrant, single parent or other high-risk environments.

"The children at our school generally come from real needy circumstances," Wilson said. "Often, experience with adults has been disappointing, at best."

Volunteers at the Joaquin School work directly with children, helping them with homework before school, tutoring them in math and reading during class, and providing productive after-school activities for kids who would otherwise leave school for empty homes.

Cynthia Nance, 21, a senior from Little Rock, Ark., majoring in linguistics, volunteers five hours a week at the Joaquin School. Nance tutors first graders who are behind in reading.

She regularly walks to the new Provo Academy library to check out children's books for her kids.

"The books they have (at school) are so lame," Nance said. "I wouldn't want to read them either."

To volunteer at the Joaquin School, call Kristin Wilson at 374-4940.

Copyright Brigham Young University 14 Mar 2002