No matter where you live in our Country, you undoubtedly live within a walk, bus ride, or car ride to a school, daycare, homeschool, or learning center, and in some locations, to a community center or two.

Within the walls of any of those institutions are a number of educators and volunteers in every role from the front office to the classroom to the cafeteria and beyond who are serving with their hearts and knowledge in educating, modeling for, and inspiring students and each other…

While the composition and setup of each setting may be different from one homeschool teacher with three students to an elementary school with five hundred to a high school with more than two thousand, what is consistent is the dedication of the educators, and of the lives of the children needing to be enriched, nourished, mentored, coached, instructed, supported, and loved.

At every age.
At every level.

Some schools may start in July, August, or September. Some may have one building or a campus of three. Some may be vocational. Or faith based. Some may be new. Some may be old. Some may play music. Some may paint pictures. Some may have School Counselors. Some may not. Some may be Blue Ribbon. Some may be growing. Some may have multiple sports. Some may have one. Some may have a huge library. Some may have a library cart. Some may have diverse populations. Diverse cultures. Some may have a predominant population. A predominant culture. Some may have structure. Some may have chaos. Some curriculum may focus on feelings. Some on character.

All have educators wanting to educate.
All have students wanting to be educated.
Needing to be educated.

All have some educators struggling to support emotion and behavior management.
All have some students struggling with emotion and behavior management.
Needing to be understood.

All have love.
As a foundation.
Or as a shorer of cracks.

All have needs.

Donors of Kleenex. Readers of books. Mentors at lunch. Partners in the arts. Funding for projects. Holders of hands. Inspirers of compassion. Leaders in action. Models of positivity. Buddies at recess. Calmers of thought. Pillars of strength. Builders of character. Sewers of community. Instillers of confidence. Sharers of light. Coaches in life. Givers of time. Lenders of talent.

Bearers of hope.
In a sometimes upside down world.

Each of you has multiple offerings to contribute. So please take a moment this September to visit your local education spot and fill a need.

One need.
Or several.

In either case, just be all in.
Because you know they are.

Author’s note:
The needs of our students, educators, schools, and communities are increasing every day. Please try to engage with your local school or community center to see how you can help… Thank you. ■