Every child deserves someone in their corner.

Pinwheel Tutoring pairs caring volunteers with elementary and middle school students who are falling behind — one relationship at a time.

Volunteer with Pinwheel →
Get Your Child Involved →

Why Pinwheel Exists

Some kids just need one person to Step In & Serve.

In Cherokee County, there are children sitting in classrooms who are already falling behind. Some struggle with dyslexia or ADHD. Some are being raised by a grandparent doing the best they can. Many carry the weight of circumstances that have nothing to do with how smart or capable they are.

Without intervention, those gaps don't close on their own. They compound. A child who struggles in second grade often struggles in fifth. And the further behind they fall, the harder it becomes to believe things can be different.

Pinwheel Tutoring exists because one caring adult — showing up consistently, twice a week — can change that trajectory.

More than homework help. A place to belong.

Each Pinwheel session runs two afternoons a week for ten weeks each fall and spring. Students spend that time with a volunteer tutor who is there specifically for them — working through the subjects where they're struggling, building confidence, and experiencing what it feels like to be known and supported.

A typical afternoon includes:

  • Homework and grade goal work — focused on each student's specific struggles in math or reading

  • Prayer and Scripture time — unhurried, age-appropriate, and built into the fabric of the afternoon

  • Life skills and character lessons — group discussions grounded in biblical values

  • Play — games, crafts, and movement, because kids are still kids

Students are tutored, mentored, and befriended — all in a safe, structured space where they know they are loved.

Pinwheel volunteers are trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), with seven certified staff members on the team. It's not just a tutoring program. It's a relationship.

Students from kindergarten through middle school.

Pinwheel serves children in kindergarten through 8th grade who have been identified by their teachers as struggling academically or socially-emotionally. Students may also be referred by partnering organizations in the community.

Many students come from homes facing real hardship — single-parent households, financial stress, learning challenges, or instability that makes focusing on school feel nearly impossible. Pinwheel meets them where they are and walks alongside them through the semester.

Enrollment is referral-based. If you're a teacher, school counselor, or community partner who knows a child who could benefit, we want to hear from you.

Serving students in Andrews and Murphy.

Andrews, NC

Andrews Elementary (Pinwheel)

Andrews Middle School (Firefly)

Monday & Tuesday

2:45 – 5:00 PM

Director: Little Holloway

Murphy, NC

Murphy Elementary (Pinwheel)

Murphy Middle School (Firefly)

Monday & Tuesday

3:00 – 5:00 PM

Director: Lauren Goins

Meet the Team

  • Little Holloway

    ANDREWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    Pinwheel Director

  • Nikki Smith

    ANDREWS MIDDLE SCHOOL

    Firefly Director

  • Lauren Goins

    MURPHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    Pinwheel Director

  • Sascha Klingsheim

    MURPHY MIDDLE SCHOOL

    Firefly Director

Get Involved

If you can read, you can make a difference.

Pinwheel tutors don't need a teaching degree. They need to step in, be consistent, and care. Volunteers commit to two afternoons a week for ten weeks — and walk away having built a relationship that matters to a child who needed one.

Before your first session, you'll complete a background check and attend a training day.

We need as many tutors as we have students. Right now, there are kids waiting.

What to expect:

  • Two afternoons per week (Monday & Tuesday)

  • 10-week commitment each semester

  • Background check and one day of training required

  • Open to all ages — if you can read, you can tutor

Volunteer With Pinwheel or Firefly →

For Families

Is Pinwheel right for your child?

Pinwheel accepts students through teacher referral or a recommendation from a partnering organization. If your child's teacher has mentioned they're struggling — or if you know your child needs extra support and a caring adult in their corner — we'd love to talk.

Enrollment is dependent on volunteer availability and we work directly with teachers and administrators with each school system to build a list of students that are a good fit. Reach out to learn whether a spot may be available for your child.

Contact Us About Your Child →

Want to help but can't volunteer? There's a place for you too.

Pinwheel runs on relationships — but it also runs on snacks, school supplies, and the generosity of people who believe every child in Cherokee County deserves a fighting chance.

Ways to support Pinwheel Tutoring:

  • Donate supplies — Here’s a link to our Amazon wishlist of the items students need most. amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3HOIQ06O43D9

  • Bring snacks — Volunteers and students gather together each afternoon. Simple contributions go a long way.

  • Give financially — Gifts to Garden 58 help cover program costs so tutors can focus on students.

Support Pinwheel →

  • “Our daughter has been part of this program since she was seven years old. Now, at fourteen, she is in her final year of Firefly. Looking at the young woman she has become, I credit this program and its amazing mentors…

    When we first moved to this area, we were two parents working full-time with absolutely no family nearby. It was a challenging time, but this community stepped right into our lives. They guided our daughter and supported her in beautiful ways that we simply could not manage on our own.”

    — Katie (parent)

  • “About five years ago, after retiring as a full-time nurse in long-term care, I was invited to explore tutoring children through Pinwheel in Andrews, North Carolina. All I can say is that it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever pursued.

    Watching the children come through the doors with such excitement and enthusiasm is truly a joy. Having the opportunity to assist them with reading and homework, while also sharing in singing, exercise, and playtime on the playground, has been incredibly meaningful. I believe the experience has benefited the children, but I can honestly say that it has enriched my life immensely as well…

    Pinwheel has given me so much more than an opportunity to volunteer. It has given me relationships, purpose, joy, and the chance to make a difference in the lives of children and families in our community.”

    — Marilyn (tutor)

  • “What an honor to get to serve the Lord by serving His children in the Pinwheel program. Little did I know how much I would be blessed. As a mother of four grown children, I've never quite gotten used to the empty nest. Pinwheel has helped fill the void with the treasure of being surrounded by children who are filled with laughter, excitement, hugs, and a willingness to participate in such a godly and well-planned program. In addition, because I am bilingual, God has opened up an unexpected door by using me to work with a few of the younger children who still struggle with English as a second language, and also with to connect with many of the parents who speak no English at all. Oh, how our Lord loves all His children! By my building trust with many of the Hispanic families, even visiting their church and getting to know their Pastor, God has used this meager servant to witness to them, assist the parents with homework instructions and upcoming events, and form friendships that have gone beyond the walls of Pinwheel.

    I thought I was getting involved in Pinwheel to give. And I did. Yet, what I received far exceeded anything I brought. I came with a "meal." I left with a "banquet." That's how our God works when we serve Him. My cup overflows.”

    — Terr (tutor)