Circumstances and barriers for students vary widely across communities. Our local approach allows us to identify the unique needs in our community and leverage resources to make a difference in the lives of our young people.
Across our community, the identified priority local needs and risk factors vary for each school, family, and individual student. To address these needs, our school-based site coordinators have implemented the following supports
Our Services in Schools
Case Management
School-based site coordinators empower students to stay in school through individualized access to needed resources, and ongoing encouragement and guidance to build confidence to reach their potential and achieve their dreams.
Backpack Buddies
Food insecurity affects one in four students in Pierce County. We partner with the community to provide students with food over the weekend and over holidays to ensure that they have access to food while at home.
Costco Readers
Communities In Schools has partnered with Costco Wholesale to provide reading assistance to elementary students.
Fill the Canoe School Supply Drive
Every year, barriers prevent groups of students from having the school supplies they need to start the school year. We partner with Red Canoe Credit Union to facilitate the "Fill the Canoe" School Supply Drive every August.
March Gladness
Each year, Communities In Schools coordinates a series of community service projects known as March Gladness. Students from all 33 schools in the Puyallup School District play a leading role in creating and carrying out a service project to benefit a local, national, or global cause.
Mentoring
Mentoring provides students the opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult. Mentorship strengthens the student's sense of self-esteem, instills an enthusiasm for learning, and helps reduce risky behavior.
Personalized Group Interventions
Our site coordinators provide personalized small group interventions to Puyallup students. With the support of community volunteers, we teach students to love reading, setting them up for future learning success.
Tutoring
Our caring mentors and tutors work with students to help them improve in academics and achieve personal goals. This sincere connection is crucial to a student's growth and development.