School Partnerships

With volunteers and financial donations, Providence UMC supports education in our community.  We focus strongly on elementary schools because our research shows that children who cannot read by third grade are at the highest risk for a future life of poverty and crime.

You can make a difference!  Our education ministries are open to any member or guest who would like to participate.  If interested, please contact Carol Shinn at Email Carol.

Children's Literacy Program

This innovative Local Missions program allows members of Providence UMC and their friends to teach children in second and third grade to read.  Tutor in the school of your choice, or allow us to find a school that is in need.  It is our hope that the children we help will avoid a future life of poverty and crime.  Currently there are over 50 Providence literacy volunteers placed in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.

What you can do:  Train first, and then provide one-on-one tutoring of second and third grade students who are reading below their grade level. 

Classroom Central

Classroom Central operates with the sole purpose of providing free school supplies to teachers and students in our community's most impoverished schools. Coming again this August: School Tools, a city-wide school supply drive, when Providence UMC will once again be a dropoff site for school supplies.

What you can do: Donate supplies or financial assistance.  Organize small groups to support the annual School Tools drive.

Thomasboro Academy

Providence UMC has partnered with Thomasboro Academy through Communities in Shalom for many years.  Located off Freedom Drive, Thomasboro will be a Pre-K through 8th grade school in 2011-2012.  100% of the school's students receive free or reduced lunch.

What you can do: Participate in a variety of activities including working in the school's library, collecting school supplies, landscaping, delivering Backpacks with Snacks, or tutoring a student.  Become a member of the Communities in Shalom group that supports the fragile Thomasboro neighborhood.