Volunteering At Grove Park Elementary Brings Ibis Retirees Joy
At Ibis, a golf club community bordering the Grassy Waters Nature Preserve in north Palm Beach County, volunteering means love, laughter and smiles. For the last six years members of the “Ibis Home Owner’s Association” have traveled east every week to volunteer at Grove Park Elementary School. The volunteers, spear-headed by Marcia Rabb, have come to the elementary school to read, mentor, tutor and assist in the media center, helping hundreds of children to succeed in school.
“The number of volunteers has grown tremendously since the program first began,” according to Ms. Rabb. “The children give back more than we give them….the smiles on their faces and the love in their hearts is what it’s all about. It is a joy to work with each and every one of the students at Grove Park Elementary.”
This groups kindness and generosity does not stop at helping out in the classroom and media center. These giving volunteers, the majority being retirees, have been strong advocates for the school food drive donating hundreds of dollars worth of food and basic staples. When some children were in need of school uniforms, they responded by buying 25 uniforms for needy students This past holiday season, Ibis volunteers were there again, providing toys, gift cards, clothes and food for 680 children who might not have had a memorable holiday. In all they have donated over $35,000 to the children of Grove Park Elementary.
Now Marcia Rabb, is on yet another mission, this time her goal is to “Officially adopt Grove Park Elementary School with a focus on fundraising.” At the volunteer fair, recently held at Ibis and sponsored by the Cultural Arts Association they recruited nine more volunteers.
The School District has a strategy of developing partnerships with community members, organizations and businesses to support and encourage student achievement.
For more information or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact North Area Volunteer Coordinator Debra Tharpe at 561-541-7385 or tharped@palmbeach.k12.fl.us .
