Engagement & Enrichment

Lunch Buddies Program

Developing self-esteem and life skills through interactions with positive adult role models. Make a difference in the life of a child and become a Lunch Buddy!

Students are more likely to succeed if they have a mentor. It could be a parent, a teacher, a coach — someone special who keeps an eye out for a student in need. 

Lunch Buddies make a difference by:

• Showing the students that their community cares about them.
• Building students’ trust and confidence.
• Often improving student attendance.
• Helping students learn and improve their self-image.

All VPS elementary schools have the opportunity to participate in the Lunch Buddy program. There are typically more children waiting for a buddy, than there are mentors. There is especially a need for male mentors.

Here’s how the program works:

• Students are referred by their teachers, counselors, or school administrators.
• Once a parent signs the permission form, students are matched with an adult.
• Buddies typically meet on school grounds with their assigned student once a week, for about 45 minutes, for the duration of the school year.
• Lunch can be followed by board games, reading, crafts, or just talking.

As a volunteer mentor, you’ll be given the option of the school(s) you would like to support and your day preference for meeting with an assigned student buddy. This is a year-long volunteer commitment. It requires volunteers to be consistent in attendance each week with the same student, working toward the goal of developing life-long skills that model purpose and potential.

For more information, email LunchBuddy@vansd.org or call Carla Feltz at (360) 313-4718.

Ready to sign up? Please visit the Vancouver Public School Volunteer website.