Hear the story behind our founding 20 years ago,
with Cheryl Opper and Candy O'Terry.
Click the graphic to hear this heartfelt and inpirational podcast. 


School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA) was founded in 2004 by teacher and child advocate Cheryl Opper after reading a magazine article about Agnes Stevens, Founder of School on Wheels of California.  The article, "Lessons in Love," described the non-profit Stevens began after noticing the many children living on Skid Row who were not attending school.  

Cheryl was inspired to bring the one-on-one academic support program to Massachusetts for children impacted by homelessness.  She started SOWMA out of her home in Easton, Massachusetts, where she invited volunteers to her kitchen table and filled her basement with donated backpacks and school supplies. Together the volunteers distributed school materials to 20 children living at two family shelters in Brockton, Massachusetts.  Soon they began tutoring these children weekly.  

Since the start of the 2021/2022 academic year, SOWMA has distributed more than 6,000 new customized, grade-level backpacks to children and at-risk youth living in 38 Massachusetts communities.  Trained volunteers provide one-on-one tutoring to 280 students at 18 program site locations from Boston to the South Coast.  Our Bridge Mentoring Program provides 87 high school and college-age students with financial support and mentors, who shepherd students through high school and onto post-secondary plans, including college, vocational training and jobs.

School on Wheels of Massachusetts is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization funded through the generosity of individuals, communities, business, corporations and foundations.

To learn about the many ways to become involved, click here.