6 Ways to volunteer, donate and help out at local schools this season

Schools and teachers are truly the backbone of our communities, but they can’t thrive and help kids grow into their best selves without the proper resources, support and involvement to get the job done. We’ve spoken with local educators to come up with six impactful ways to give back to schools and make a difference this fall.

Get Involved

Start by asking your child’s teachers how you can help make the fall transition smoother. Consider lending your time to the PTA, chaperoning field trips, assisting with events, tutoring, or even evaluating scholarship applications. If your schedule is tight, virtual meetings and online fundraising are great alternatives.

Local Spotlight: Lace your sneakers up for the Lightning Run on
Oct. 24. All proceeds from this Peachtree qualifier benefit the Sandy Springs Education Force, a nonprofit that works to support financially vulnerable students in Sandy Springs. Sign up at sandyspringseducationforce.org/lightning-run.

Support Fundraising Events

Schools often rely on fundraising to support extracurricular activities, special programs, or facility improvements. Whether you organize or attend, events like bake sales, trivia nights, or auctions are great ways to support your local schools.

Local Spotlight: For 43 years, Morningside Elementary School has hosted the Monster Bash Halloween carnival for people of all ages. Participate in the fun on Oct. 26. Wristbands will be open to the public coming soon.

Cultivate Community Engagement

Whether you own a local business or simply have a favorite spot, encouraging partnerships between schools and nonprofits, restaurants or cultural institutions can bring in tons of additional resources, expertise and opportunities. Fundraising becomes that much easier when you have dedicated locals to help along the way.

Local Spotlight: The Midtown High School Basketball team is currently looking for community sponsors! Learn more about advertisement opportunities and how you can join over 100+ local businesses in supporting the team at midtownknightsathletics.com/sponsorship.

Offer Your Expertise

If you have a particular skill, share it with students. You could become a mentor, help with college applications, offer career advice, or lead creative workshops. Your guidance can inspire students to pursue new interests and discover their true passions.

Local Spotlight: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta works with volunteers, parents and families to offer one-on-one mentoring that helps kids reach their full potential. Sign up to make a difference in someone’s life at bbbsatl.org.

Donate

And we don’t just mean money! While it’s always valuable to provide monetary support for things like school lunches and scholarship funds, schools are always looking for extra supplies. Contact your local school district to see what’s lacking and help fill those gaps.

Local Spotlight: While teachers often experience an influx of back-to-school donations in early August by late September and October supplies may already be dwindling. TeacherWishlists.com lets you browse the needs of Atlanta teachers, pledge donations and drop off supplies at local schools.

Advocate for educators

Teachers don’t often put themselves first, so ensuring that they are taken care of is key to maintaining a better working environment, which in turn benefits students. This can involve joining organizations or speaking out on issues like teacher pay, class sizes and education funding.

Local Spotlight: Become a Community Ally within the Atlanta chapter of the National Education Association. Learn more at nea.org.

Change Makers

How community members have made a real difference in local schools.

Anne Shamanski

Associate Head of School
St. Benedict’s Episcopal School

Involved parents set students up for success by reinforcing the support and expectations. We’re fortunate to have various local businesses, restaurants, gyms and health professionals that offer discounts and donations to our school and faculty. Consider joining this growing community today!

Evan Jefferson

Head Basketball Coach 
Midtown High School

Parents can help athletic programs by finding business sponsorships, assisting with carpooling for athletes who don’t have rides, pre-game and post-game meals and donating essential items such as water, Gatorade and laundry detergent. One parent allowed our athletic teams to use their Airbnb for team bonding opportunities, which made a big difference with the team’s chemistry.