Children at Metcalfe Elementary School giggled with excitement Wednesday when a group of UF students stepped into their cafeteria.
Since October, UF students have been paired up with students from Metcalfe as part of Project MASCOT, Mentoring Alliance: Students and Communities Outreaching Together.
The project is a one-year, nonprofit program for UF student volunteers interested in helping and motivating elementary-school children in the Gainesville area, according to its Web site.
Every week, the volunteers dedicate 30 minutes to mentor children who are "at risk," and as of Monday, every third- and fourth-grade student at Metcalfe has a mentor, said Kelley Bonds Kostamo, partnership specialist for Alachua County School Volunteer Program.
"I'm surprised college students would be willing to put in their time and miss getting sleep to mentor these kids," said Nathaniel Jones, student specialist at Metcalfe.
At Metcalfe, about 75 percent of the students receive free lunches, Jones said. He said the majority of these children come from low-income households.
The children at Metcalfe have problems identifying good role models, he said. Project MASCOT will be able to keep the children interested in not only their schoolwork but also in developing hopes and dreams for their future, Jones said.
"I tip my hat off to students who come and mentor," he said.
While some UF students are required to participate in community service, others take the initiative because they want to make a bigger difference in Gainesville.
Andrew Schneider, a 20-year-old UF biology major, said he decided to participate in Project MASCOT because he thought it would be fun and rewarding to help at-risk children.
Schneider and his student, George, meet every Wednesday at noon to hang out, play sports and just talk about life.
"He smiles every time I visit him," Schneider said as he gave George a high-five.
