There are four ways to volunteer with Puente in the coming months. Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Abby Mohaupt at amohaupt@mypuente.org or 650-262-4095 for more information or to volunteer.

Driving Tests (This would be a short, but sweet and really needed volunteer opportunity.) Charlea Binford has started a drivers’ license course this summer for women. It’s mainly to help them pass the written part of the test, but also included is the verbal part of the driving test. The instructor makes the driver point out several different parts of the car (possibly in English if they are not Spanish speakers) before they even take off to drive. There are 15 women in the class now, and more may still join. Details for this opportunity are:

1. Women volunteers willing to sit in a car with one of the students, go through the list of parts of the car (in English) and give a few more instructions relating to the class- and do this however many times until they get it right. There will be no driving so everyone is safe.
2. This will happen on Tuesday, August 25th at 7:00pm at Puente. There will be a mini training the hour before from 6-7 PM.
3. Optional: Some of these women have requested someone to go with them to their DMV appointments to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Language Exchange: During the fall semester we plan on having ‘coffee shop’ style classes at the end of every month at ESL classes. This means we ditch the classroom and set up a bunch of tables in the elementary school and have volunteers come in and speak English to the students. We’re also working to have the last 30 minutes all in Spanish, but we want to ask the students first.

The first session will be Sept 29th 7-9 PM at Pescadero Elementary School.

1. Training will be Monday Sept 28th at 7 PM.
2. You will need to fill out the full volunteer application.

Mentoring Youth: There are 16 students at Pescadero High School that have under a 1.0 GPA and are in critical need of tutors- mainly in English and Math, but there will be other subjects as well. We’re looking for tutors who are willing to make a semester commitment to a student and to be a solid accountability partner for their studies. Some of the students live in La Honda so for you La Hondaers that would mean not a far drive. If you want to go above and beyond- some of these students are about to enter into high school this coming year. If you plan on sticking around the area for the next 4 years you could personally help one of these students graduate high school by sticking with him or her. Requirements are

1. Ideally you would meet with the student twice a week for an hour and half at a time, be their accountability partner, and be a solid/stable person in their life.
2. A commitment to a student from Aug 18th- Dec 22nd.
3. Fingerprints and background check (which Puente will reimburse you for)
4. Filling out complete volunteer application.

Reading Partners: The Elementary School students in Pescadero need help reading. Puente is going to round up 20 volunteers who are willing to read with and listen to a couple of students once or twice a week from 3-5pm at the Elementary School. Requirements are:

1. Attend training on August 31 5-7pm.
2. A commitment to a student from Aug 18th- Dec 22nd.
3. Fingerprints and background check (which Puente will reimburse you for)
4. Filling out complete volunteer application.

Puente is looking for an ESL Teacher to join our team.