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The Lunch Buddy Program matches adult volunteers with elementary students. For a school year, the adult and student have lunch together once a week and spend recess playing games, reading, doing crafts and talking. This time together shows the student the caring nature of community and leaves a long-lasting impression of friendship.
It is a sustainable program with minimal financial commitments. The Lunch Buddy Program at Madison Elementary School in Olympia began about sixteen years ago, motivated by President Bush’s Points of Light Campaign.
Consistent, predictable time and attention are the greatest gifts an adult volunteer gives to their lunch buddy. Students are chosen for the program who would benefit from the additional attention, as it strengthens social and communication skills and heightens self esteem. Increased adult attention and companionship has a positive impact on students both academically and emotionally. During this one hour per week of conversation and social interaction, they practice taking turns and following rules. Attendance often improves because students look forward to seeing their lunch buddies.
About twenty-five students participate in the program per year at Madison Elementary. Students that have a lunch buddy generally do not have one the following year so that as many students as possible can participate.
Students in the program need consistency in their lives, so it is important that lunch buddies commit to coming once a week throughout the year, with as few changes in the scheduled day as possible.
At Madison Elementary, about 40% of the volunteers come from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Volunteers often carpool or walk together. Recruiting is focused on agencies and individuals who are nearby, making it more motivating and easier for the volunteers. About half of the volunteers from each year return the following year.
Volunteers enjoy a sense of satisfaction as they develop a relationship with their lunch buddy. They make a child feel special and important, and it is rewarding when the student is happy to see them. They realize they could be the one consistent, positive role model that makes a difference in the child’s life. Adult volunteers improve their intergenerational communication skills and enjoy the opportunity to step out of their daily routine. Volunteers appreciate that visiting their lunch buddy fits easily into their busy schedules.
John Pope, volunteer from OSPI for 15 years, cautions lunch buddies not to expect their student to take an instant liking to them. “Some of these kids have gone through tough situations and are learning to trust people. It may take time and patience.”
“My lunch buddy did not want to make eye contact with me the first day we met and sat facing another direction when he ate,” said Alyssa Westall, who is volunteering for her third year. “Now he still needs his space, but he smiles when he sees me and looks at me when he talks. He has taught me how to play mancala and has a new game lined up every week for us to play.”
“It is a great program and I feel very lucky to have stepped into this role. Keeping the role manageable with all of my other responsibilities is challenging. I would recommend that those who wish to develop such a program think through their building plan, continuum of activities in place, and then determine the size of the volunteer group.” said Kim Swanson, Social Service Coordinator at Madison Elementary. Kim advises that if you start the program in your school, you start small and expand as time is available.
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- Discuss the program with your administrator and school staff. Their support is very important to the success of the program.
Make sure you have a staff member with the time to run the program. At the beginning of the school year, it takes 10 hours a week to get the program up and running and about 2 hours a week after that.
- Draft an application and information packet for volunteers including:
- Meet with local companies or organizations to recruit volunteers. It works best if management at the organization is supportive of the program and you identify a person at the organization to coordinate a group of volunteers. Collect applications.
- In September, ask teachers to nominate students for the program. Get input from the school counselor, school psychologist and home visitors. Give them criteria such as students with issues at home, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating or focusing, a lack of communication or social skills, etc.
- Meet with students to explain the program and gauge their interest in participating. Send permission slips home for parents to sign.
- Match students with volunteers as closely as possible.
Give an orientation to volunteers. Ask veteran volunteers to share their experiences. Give a tour of the building, telling volunteers where to sign in, find their student, eat, and spend recess. Discuss rules and guidelines volunteers need to be aware of, such as not bringing gifts. Provide volunteers with a school calendar so that they are aware of early-release and vacation days.
- Develop a system to notify volunteers if their lunch buddy is absent on their scheduled day or for volunteers to notify the school when they are unable to attend.
Lunch buddy services should start in mid-October.
- Be available throughout the year for students and volunteers to ask questions or express any concerns. In the case of volunteers, this can often be done via e-mail. Ask volunteers for feedback and suggestions. You should have formal communication with adult volunteers at least every 3 months.
Sometimes the volunteer and student don’t hit it off and you may need to find a solution. Often it is a matter of having a conversation with both individuals, but sometimes you will need to assign the volunteer another lunch buddy.
- Hold a luncheon at the end of the year to thank volunteers. Ask students to make thank-you cards for their lunch buddy. Student entertainment is always a hit!
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