Pilot ‘Lunch Buddies’ program credited with positive student impact

Melissa Huttna (speaker 10) told the Camas School District board on June 8 that the district piloted a volunteer 'Lunch Buddies' program this year at two elementary schools and observed strong volunteer commitment and positive effects for participating students.

Huttna said community outreach yielded roughly 50 interested volunteers and about 35–40 attendees for training; schools matched counsel-identified students with 7–10 consistent 'buddies' during the school year. “The kids did not miss a day. They looked forward to that time,” she said, describing the program as 'very, very positive.'

Why it matters: Board members noted the program aligns with district priorities of safety and belonging and offers a low-cost way to connect students with trusted adults. Organizers reported that most volunteers were community members (not parents), the counselors helped select student matches, and initial logistics favored a limited cohort size so the pilot could be monitored and refined.

Next steps: Huttna said the program team plans to refine onboarding and add structured check-ins with volunteers, survey participants at year end, and explore ways to scale while maintaining consistent volunteer pairing. The board discussed outreach channels and suggested the district consider community-wide promotion to recruit retired volunteers, business partners and other community members.

The board thanked organizers and asked staff to include the program in fall planning discussions for potential expansion.