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NC VIPS

  • Spend a little time. 
    Give a brighter future.

    Our Vision

    Every child learns to read 

    so that they can read to learn.


What We Do

“One in six children who are not reading proficiently in third grade fail to graduate from high school on time, four times the rate for children with proficient third grade reading skills.”  - Annie E Casey Foundation


NC VIPS volunteers help children learn how to read at elementary schools with large economically disadvantaged populations. Volunteers provide a positive environment so that children understand their self-worth and understand the value of education. All volunteering is done at the direction of the students’ teachers. We invite you to join the NC VIPS as it expands to 9 elementary schools across Brunswick County.

How to Contribute

Reading Buddies

Reading Buddies work at their assigned teacher’s direction. This enables them to work as an extension of the teacher providing targeted tutoring to their assigned students. During a typical one-hour assignment, they work with two students for 30 minutes apiece. By working with the same students throughout the year, volunteers can develop a mentoring relationship, let the student know that they are important, and that education is important.

Volunteer

Committee Support

North Carolina Volunteers in Public Schools is an all-volunteer organization. To successfully meet the needs of students, it needs volunteers with skills in communications, training development, fund raising, videography, information technology, marketing, or customer service. 


Let Us Know

Donate

NC VIPS is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which is run by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help provide school supplies and awards, recruit additional volunteers, and more.

Donate

Elementary Schools We Serve

Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary          Supply Elementary          Bolivia Elementary          Lincoln Elementary

Union Elementary       Virginia Williamson Elementary       Belville Elementary      Town Creek Elementary       Southport Elementary

2025/2026 Accomplisments

135

Volunteers

 5

Schools

3500

In School Hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Although it's great to have, most volunteers don't have teaching experience.  Primarily you need to like kids, have patience, and know how to read. Training and tips will be available but if all you did was to listen to a child read and provide encouragement, they would be better off for it.

Although it's great to have, most volunteers don't have teaching experience.  Primarily you need to like kids, have patience, and know how to read. Training and tips will be available but if all you did was to listen to a child read and provide encouragement, they would be better off for it.

Although it's great to have, most volunteers don't have teaching experience.  Primarily you need to like kids, have patience, and know how to read. Training and tips will be available but if all you did was to listen to a child read and provide encouragement, they would be better off for it.

We all have other things in our lives, so it is not a surprise when we need to miss a day and that's OK. If you know in advance, it's courteous to let both the teacher and the student you are working with know that you'll be missing. Alternately, drop an email to the teacher that you are working with.

The teacher is always in charge. They will provide you with direction and the materials you need.

That's up to you. It's pretty helpful if your students see you more than once a week. But if you're unsure about volunteering or you schedule doesn't allow for more than day, that's fine too. Each segment of volunteer time is one hour which is usually split into two thirty-minute sessions.

  • On your first day someone in the front office will show you how to sign in. Someone will take you to the class you will be working in and introduce you to your teacher.
  • On subsequent days, you will sign in and go directly to your class.
  • You will have the opportunity to work directly with a teacher.
  • The teacher will direct you to help with reading, math, or some other subject.
  • Often, you'll work with the same students on an ongoing basis.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to see improvement as the year goes on.

There should be plenty of parking in front of the school.  Avoid the bus parking lot.

Check in and out at the front office.

If the teacher you are working with is unable to answer your question. Please contact us at communications@ncvips.com.