Uplift A Child Today

A great quality of the Auburn family is the drive to give back to the community that allows for our large family to exist. One of the many ways the Auburn family demonstrates this desire is through the students and adults that volunteer their time, money and love to the children of Lee County through Project Uplift.

Since 1973, Project Uplift has been pairing children and volunteers (age 18 or over) to form constructive relationships beneficial to both parties. The main goal of Project Uplift is to help children develop constructive, happy lives, so delinquency in Lee County will decrease.

“My favorite part of Project Uplift is seeing our volunteers with the children,” says Amanda Gamble, who serves as the support services coordinator for Project Uplift.

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With 152 local children on the waiting list, Project Uplift is in the middle of its volunteer recruitment for the fall. Volunteers are required to attend a training session, go through an interview process and a background check. You can volunteer by yourself or with a friend, and pick from one to three children, depending on how much time you have available.

Project Uplift serves as an outreach program with the Department of Psychology at Auburn University. Office space and additional resources are provided by the department, allowing for the recent move from the old office in the Haley Center to its new home in Cary Hall.

Volunteers are asked to spend a minimum of three to four hours with their child each week, and report their activities to the Project Uplift staff on a monthly basis.

Seniors Erin Hartsfield and Laura Beth Young volunteer their time and friendship to children through Project Uplift.

“It’s nice to be a bright light or positive influence in someone’s day,” said Hartsfield.

Students who begin volunteering as freshmen can mentor the same child throughout their college career, building a lifelong relationship that displays true friendship. With cooperation from their schools, progress reports are given through surveys and grade reports to track the overall improvement in the lives of mentored children.

“Project Uplift is a wonderful program to get involved with,” said Young. “It’s rewarding for the kids and it’s also rewarding for you!”

Upcoming training sessions will take place in 158 Cary Hall and are to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 4 until 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25 from 3 until 7 p.m. For a complete list of training dates, visit www.auburn.edu/projectuplift.