Mentorship

Support from trusted adults is critical to student success. WE ARE VB recruits adults from the Virginia Beach community to provide mentorship to at-risk students during the school year. Mentors are trained by the school system and matched with students by our network of school social workers/administrators. Mentors meet with their students 1-2 hours per month at school during regularly scheduled sessions. Topics of conversation can include plans for the future, goals, social life, home life, and of course…school life!

Our goal is to provide trusted adult support where such consistent relationships may be limited or lacking in their home life. The students we support have every reason in the world not to see their education through to the finish line, but a little extra attention and caring is sometimes exactly what it takes to see a student through to graduation. The program has proven to be rewarding for mentors and students alike.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please fill out this online form.

FUEL UP

We know that food security leads to increased academic performance and improved self-esteem. Our FUEL UP program seeks to feed student success by nourishing student’s minds and bodies. Our model is built on the premise that food accessibility for the family unit is key to student success. WE ARE VB relies 100% on our community to support this program!

WE ARE VB provides three types of assistance:

FUEL UP TO-GO BAGS provides family-sized food bags to high school students and their families for long weekends and holiday breaks, when food at home is often most scarce. On demand food bags are also provided during the school week for especially at-risk students, at the request of their school social worker/administrator.

FUEL UP IN-SCHOOL PANTRIES are stocked by WE ARE VB and access is provided to at-risk students during the school day through school social workers/administrators. Pantry items include shelf-stable grab-n-go snacks and meals, toiletries and personal care items (i.e., feminine products, socks).

GATHER & GIVE EVENTS Throughout the school year we invite groups to support our FUEL UP program through focused efforts to gather and pack food and household supplies. If your family, friends, workplace, sports team or book club wants to host a FUEL UP Gather & Give Event, please contact programs@wearevb.wpenginepowered.com.

WE’VE MADE DONATING EASY!

FUEL UP donation items can be purchased on AMAZON and shipped directly to WE ARE VB! Just one click and you’ll be helping to alleviate hunger for a local teen and their family. For more information, email us at programs@wearevb.wpenginepowered.com.

FUEL UP SHOPPING LIST

Due to the volume of assistance we provide, and our commitment to providing 100% volunteer assistance, we kindly ask that FUEL UP donations include only the specific items listed on our Amazon shopping list.

FUEL UP DONATION RECEIPT

Download and use this form to track your donations or porch drop-offs and to keep with your tax records.

Thrive

WE ARE VB is committed to breaking down financial barriers to full scholastic participation for students in need. We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate in school activities that enhance their education and help shape their future as young adults.

Our Thrive grants provide every Virginia Beach high school with annual funding to empower at-risk students to fully participate in scholastic life. This funding allows school social workers/administrators to meet emergency and out-of-the box needs for individual students such as sports or club uniforms, school or club field trips, driver’s education courses, club participation fees, musical instruments, sports physicals, etc.

Your donations make this program possible!

For more information about the Thrive grants program, please contact programs@wearevb.wpenginepowered.com.

GRADitude

WE ARE VB provides need-based financial support for seniors, ensuring that financial barriers do not interfere with the joy and celebration of their senior year. We provide funding for yearbooks, senior portraits, cap and gown, prom, and school-based graduation after-parties. Graduation is a HUGE accomplishment for the student population we support, and they deserve to enjoy and participate in each of the special moments, alongside their peers.

We are always searching for HOMETOWN HEROES who can sponsor additional opportunities such as prom night restaurant dinners and transportation. Please contact us at programs@wearevb.wpenginepowered.com

College Scholarship

WE ARE VB is committed to fostering real change by breaking down the barriers to student success. Since 2017 we have awarded eight college scholarships to Virginia Beach high school students now attending Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, and Liberty University! Select scholarship funding is renewable for four years through a basic application process and by meeting standard requirements set by our organization.

The “John and Mary Beth Lugo Founders Scholarship” is awarded at the discretion of the WE ARE VB Board of Directors. Our network of Virginia Beach school social workers and administrators assists us in selecting students who have demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity and are uniquely poised to make the transition to higher education.

For more information about our College Scholarship program, please contact programs@wearevb.wpenginepowered.com.

Emergency Assistance

WE ARE VB works exclusively through our school system partners to provide emergency and “out of the box” assistance to families with critical or transitional needs that cannot be addressed through our standard programming model. Examples include transition to safe or permanent housing, clothing and school supplies and consistent nutritional assistance. Funding is limited annually, and awarded by vote of the Board of Directors.

For more information about our URGENT program, please contact programs@wearevb.wpenginepowered.com.