Volunteers of the Month – December 2025
Jared Mazzaschi
What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I liked the idea of helping out a kid that might not have a ton of stability in his/her life. Also, I had a friend who tutored at SOW and she said it was a great experience. I decided to give it a whirl. It just sounded like a great thing to do!
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
I’d probably try to relate some of the same ideas we try to bestow on our students. Namely, that tough times are a part of life and that resilience and persistence in the face of adversity are essential. Just keep showing up. You will have tough days, but there will be just as many if not more great ones! The good, the satisfaction of being a part of the solution as opposed to the problem outweighs the tough stuff.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
I want to be a better tutor! I want to learn how I can better help Elijah. I have to give a shout out to my coordinator Berkley in that I feel so supported by her. She’s always quick with an answer or to point me toward resources I didn’t even know existed for us tutors.
What have you learned from your student?
Elijah is a fun guy! He’s not gonna let the party stop if he has a say. Seriously though, Elijah is irrepressible. He’s relentlessly optimistic. Left to my own devices I can be a little gloomy, so getting out every weekend to hang out with him and read reminds me to look at the glass half full. He’s just that kind of a kid. FANTASTIC. He’s a 5 out of 5 kid.
Robbie Jacobs
What motivated you to start volunteering at School on Wheels?
I was an instructional assistant in special education for 18 years and retired in 2018. I still wanted to work with kids but not full time. My friend told me about SOW and I was a tutor for 2 years at Rain and Gabriel’s House in Ventura until Covid. After Covid I took some time off to travel and when the opportunity came up to tutor at Hope the Mission I was so excited.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
I would advise a new volunteer be patient and adaptable to any new situation in order for the student to succeed. Also, a volunteer should come with a Big sense of humor!
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
To overcome a challenge, I try to keep a positive attitude and remember that each of the children I tutor really wants to learn. When they are proud of what they have achieved, it is the light in their eyes and the big smile they make that inspires me.
What have you learned from your student?
I have learned from my 2 students that not all learn at the same pace and in the same way. Also, I have a better understanding of what sparks their curiosity.