COALA IN THE COMMUNITY

 

In our commitment to support our local community, COALA provides its Members with opportunities throughout the year to participate in community outreach efforts in the Oklahoma City metro area.

 

POSITIVE TOMORROWS

Positive Tomorrows is Oklahoma’s only elementary school specifically for homeless children. Its mission is to educate homeless children and their families to break the cycle of poverty.

Every August, COALA collects items and donations for Positive Tomorrows’ School Supply Drive. Not only do our members show up with boxes of school supplies, monetary donations are also collected to help Positive Tomorrows prepare for their upcoming school year. The donations are presented to a representative from Positive Tomorrows at our August luncheons.

In December, COALA raffles off items donated by various vendors in and around the Oklahoma City metro area. The proceeds from the raffle are then donated to Positive Tomorrows to help it continue its endeavor in serving homeless children.

In addition to the school supply drive and raffle, COALA Members also volunteer by sponsoring birthday parties to help create the most memorable day for a student at Positive Tomorrows! We work with a group of volunteers to provide gifts, cake, refreshments, decorations, and party favors for a child on their birthday. It is truly special to have an opportunity to share in a child’s birthday celebration. The birthday parties take place at the school and require a little over an hour as a time commitment. This is an amazing opportunity to get involved in your community and make a difference in a child’s life.

COALA is proud and honored to support this great cause. Contact us to learn more about COALA’s involvement with Positive Tomorrows or to participate in any of the above events.

Lawyers for Learning

COALA would like to provide you with another great volunteer opportunity in our community! The Oklahoma County Bar Association has organized a reading program called Lawyers for Learning. Volunteers of this program act as “reading buddies” for elementary school students in OKC Public Schools. This is an opportunity to read with a child who may be behind in reading and/or coming from a home where English is their second language and to help them advance their reading skills in a one-on-one setting.

Each reading session lasts approximately one hour and takes place at the school. You have the option of reading as little or as much as you like – weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or anywhere in between. These students are at a pivotal point in their education as they prepare to qualify for promotion to the 4th grade.

Contact us or email Kasi O’Brien, kasi.obrien@okc.gov, if you would like more information or would like to sign up.

#COALAintheCommunity #CommunityOutreach #COALA

COALA collects donations to benefit Suited for Success. Consider setting aside items for this great organization as you clean out your closets.

The mission of Suited for Success is to help women achieve self-sufficiency by providing profession clothing and career development services.

All clothing items should be freshly dry cleaned / laundered and ironed (many of the clients go directly to an interview), no more than 5 years old, and suitable for wearing to job interviews.

Click here to learn more about our latest clothing drive.