Family Out Reach Team (FORT)

What is FORT?  

FORT is the Family OutReach Team at Seawell. It was formed to ensure that activities and events planned at Seawell address the diverse needs and concerns of Seawell’s students and their families!  FORT’s main goal is to get families involved in school through a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities as well as design events and outreach programs to meet our families’ needs. 

FORT volunteers meet once each month.  FORT communicates with members through meetings and email allowing everyone to remain updated and involved.  Even if you can’t join us for the meetings, you can still be a part of FORT. 

FORT’s focus and responsibilities are continually developing and changing to meet Seawell’s needs. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful, both at school and from home, throughout the year including:

• Work with TABLE to make sure students are able to receive food over weekends and breaks

• Seawell Buddies Email Program – Alert our community about immediate needs of Seawell families in crisis 

• Maintain the School Supplies Closet and the Sharing Closet (gently used/new winter coats & shoes)

• Holiday Food Drive for Seawell families 

Joining FORT is easy.  

You can sign-up online.  Or, you can print-out this form, complete it, and return it to Seawell.

Donations Needed For the Sharing/School Supply Closet

Seawell’s FORT Committee of Volunteers sponsors a Sharing/School Supply Closet to assist our Seawell families. Managed by Seawell’s School Social Worker this closet collects backpacks, school supplies and gently used/new shoes and winter coats. Your donations to our Seawell Closet will be distributed as needed to other Seawell families. FORT collects your donations all year round, but donations are especially needed at the beginning of each school year! Gift cards to grocery stores are also very appreciated.   Here is a list of most needed items.

We Need your Help Supporting Seawell’s Most Vulnerable Children!

Sponsor a child in the weekend food backpack program.

About 1 in 3 children in Carrboro & Chapel Hill receive assistance for meals. To help combat food insecurity at Seawell, FORT (Seawell’s Family OutReach Team) and the PTA sponsor a weekend food backpack program with TABLE for some of Seawell’s most vulnerable children. To be able to provide support we are seeking families to sponsor our vulnerable children.  For more details, or to sponsor a child, look here.

Seawell Buddies

Seawell Buddies is a program at Seawell Elementary through which Seawell Seahawk families can help other Seawell families in their time of need.

How does it work?

When our school social worker is notified of a Seawell family in crisis, an email will be sent out to the Seawell Buddies email list stating the family’s needs, such as food, furniture, clothing, transportation and/or whatever else is needed. If you have the needed items, then respond back to the school social worker.

Seawell Buddies works through a No-Obligation Email list. All of those on the list will receive email requests when needs arise. When you can donate an item, have time to deliver items, or have a truck to pick up large items, you can let us know and we will coordinate it all.

How to join Seawell Buddies?

You can sign-up online.  Or, you can print-out this form, complete it, and return it to Seawell.