A school mentoring program in Albemarle County received some national recognition last month, and now the program is spreading to other counties in central Virginia.
The Friends In School Helping (FISH) program places senior citizens with the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) in pre-schools and in upper level classrooms. The JABA members are there to tutor and mentor the students.
Martha Williams is the manager of volunteer services at JABA. She says that despite budget cuts, the FISH program has proved to be so successful that students in Louisa County can now expect more help from tutors in reading, math and English.
"That's a great county to expand into right now with the earthquake and the needs that they may have out there," Williams explained.
In August, the program was named a "best practice" by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
Williams stresses that the FISH program needs more volunteers. If you would like to become a volunteer or just learn more about the program click here or call (434) 817-5245.
