Thank you for your interest in the La Porte ISD H.E.L.P.S. Mentoring Program for 2024-25!

In 2025, HELPS was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This milestone strengthens our ability to build sustainable mentoring relationships and secure volunteer and donor support.

We have launched this program to help the La Porte community partner with LPISD and step into some of the gaps in these selected students’ lives.

As a mentor you are committing to:

1. Consistent 30 minute meetings, every week that we can be on campuses during your student’s lunch time. You are welcome to bring lunch for the both of you or buy lunch for yourself at the campus. Weekly meetings – and if you can’t make it on your assigned day, communicating with your campus so they can let the student know not to expect you but also share when you have rescheduled your meeting for. We do NOT expect perfect attendance, but we expect you will make every effort to be there 75% of the available time campuses are available.
2. Participate in mentor training sessions 2-3 times per school year
3. Meeting all LPISD and Campus guidelines for campus conduct
4. Creating a safe space for your student to experience warm, supportive encouragement from a caring adult

The H.E.L.P.S. program is designed to help equip you to start and then sustain those relationships. It’s not about you changing a student’s life, but it’s about you being one of the few adults that is voluntarily investing time with them and in them.

Step 1: Complete the volunteer application with LPISD

• Apply Now
• Create Account or Sign In
• Volunteer Application 2024-25
• Complete the Application, select EVERY Elementary Campus “just in case”!

Send an email to Frank Nance when you have completed the online forms. Check back with LPISD in 48 hours to make sure it was completed and processed.

Now accepting tax‑deductible gifts, thanks to our official 501(c)(3) status. Donations to HELPS are now tax-deductible, and we invite you to support our growth in mentor recruiting and student programming.

Contact us for ways to give or volunteer. 

Step 2: Complete and return the HELPS Mentor Application to program organizer Frank Nance.

ELECTRONIC HELPS MENTOR APPLICATION   PDF HELPS MENTOR APPLICATION

Step 3: Attend a Mentor Training Session.

Step 3: Get matched to a student. We partner with the campus counselors to try and match you with a student that shares similar interests/hobbies where we can help you to have some common ground to build on.

Step 4: Start meeting! Consistency is critical – these students are not used to consistency and do not expect it from most adults in their lives. That’s where we will differentiate ourselves and our program!

Step 5: Participating in a quarterly H.E.L.P.S. Mentor Roundtable to share best practices with other Mentors and get additional training from LPISD campus counselors.