Just down the road from Fields Road Elementary School in Gaithersburg, there’s a group of retirees making a big difference in the lives of local students. Residents from nearby Asbury Methodist Village have become regular volunteers at the school, showing up each week to help kids with reading, math, grammar, and English language skills.
What started as just a small effort has grown into a meaningful partnership, with more than a dozen seniors now spending time in classrooms and forming real bonds with the students. Teachers say the kids get excited the moment the volunteers walk through the door — almost like grandparents arriving for a visit.
But the volunteers say they’re benefiting too. Many describe the experience as giving them a renewed sense of purpose and connection. And their support goes beyond the classroom — residents from Asbury Methodist Village have also helped raise money for backpacks, school shirts, and school improvement projects.
School leaders say the partnership sends a powerful message to students: their community cares about them, believes in them, and is invested in their future.