Beacon of H.O.P.E. ‘We Need You!’
The Beacon of H.O.P.E. is looking for volunteers to assist with the Students Achieving Success (SAS) program. SAS is the educational component of the Beacon. It includes the After School Program (ASP); helping people achieve a High School GED with the Literary Volunteers of Lee County FL. Inc.; Pine Island Teens Succeeding (PITS); and English as a second language (ESL).
“We are looking for drivers, mentors and even people that like to set up,” Betsy Haesemeyer, director of the Beacon, said. “We need drivers between the hours of 2 and 7 p.m., four days a week. Even if they can only devote 20 or 30 minutes a day or 20 or 30 minutes a week that would be a great help to us.”
“We also need mentors,” Heasemeyer said. “Mentoring helps these children because it assures a young person that there is someone who cares about them. That the child is not alone in dealing with day to day challenges. Mentors provide a experienced friend who is there to help.” Mentor Training is Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Pine Island Methodist church. The class is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Even people that have a “special” talent that you would like to share (painting, crafts, hobbies),” Haesemeyer said. “This can be a very rewarding experience and people can make a difference in as little as 15 minutes.”
Speaking at the Fort Myers Museum former WINK anchorman, and Beacon of H.O.P.E. board member Jim McLaughlin said, “Today I am a volunteer chef – I work full time as a volunteer cook for the Beacon of H.O.P.E. on Pine Island. As a board member my job is to contribute something to the organization… We have two dozen different programs, one of which is feeding hungry kids and that’s the part I took over in January. We just wrapped up a 7-week summer camp where we fed 120 kids a day – 50 for breakfast and 75 for lunch. We call it S.A.S., Students Achieving Success. It’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my life. News was good to me… but this reaches into your soul. Some days it leaves me in tears.”
Background check is required for all volunteers. Call the Beacon for additional details:
Beacon of H.O.P.E.:
5465 Pine Island Road
Bokeelia, FL 33922
Ph.: 239-283-5123