01/23/2026
Community Update from Good Neighbor Tutoring
These are heavy and frightening times for our community. Many of us are carrying grief, fear, and uncertainty as we witness increased ICE activity and violence that directly impacts our neighbors, families, and friends.
At Good Neighbor Tutoring, we are feeling these impacts every day. Families have shared that they are afraid to be out and are choosing to stay home. Some of our staff and community partners have been unable to leave their neighborhoods for days at a time. Attendance has been unpredictable—one week in the 50s, the next in the 70s—yet overall demand for tutoring continues to grow.
We typically have the capacity to serve 70–80 students each evening, but since August have a waitlist and it has grown to more than 60 children. This reflects a broader national reality: studies show that two out of three students want access to afterschool programs but are unable to get it. We are seeing that unmet need firsthand.
In response to safety concerns, we have implemented additional measures, including keeping doors locked and staffing entry points with parents and community volunteers throughout the evening. These changes are necessary, but they also require more coordination and volunteer support.
We are also navigating financial strain and changes. In January, we lost our food partnership which had provided complete, nutritious meals for 75–100 people each night. We are now cooking meals in-house, an essential but costly shift that will add approximately $20,000 to our annual budget.
Amid all of this, tutoring remains a place of warmth, joy, and belonging. Kids are still kids—learning, laughing, struggling, and growing. This space has become a refuge, and we believe deeply that showing up consistently with love and educational support is a powerful act of care and resistance in times like these.
Right now, our greatest needs are:
Volunteer tutors (we work with preschool through college age students but especially those who can support nursing students)
Door volunteers to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment
Monetary donations to support meals, staffing, and program sustainability
We are committed to doing what we do best—providing high-quality educational support and connecting families to trusted partner organizations for other needs such as food access or advocacy. This focus allows us to continue serving our community well, even in uncertain times.
Thank you for standing with us, caring for our neighbors, and helping make this space possible.
