The time is now to become a kids' mentor

Do you think to yourself that, someday, you will call the Kinship office and start the process to become a partner? That you will do it as soon as your life slows down a bit or you reach some milestone in your life? Or when your financial situation improves as money is a little tight right now?

That may not happen for a while, and in the meantime, Kinship has 48 kids on the waiting list. But the kids need someone now. It is not about spending money, but about giving time. And not a lot of time - just a couple of hours a week to become a friend to one of Kinship's kids.

Most of the kids just want to get out of the house, to get some one-on-one attention and have someone who will listen to them.

Jason is one of those kids. He is back on the Kinship waiting list after recently ending his 2-year partnership. Jason lives with his mom and two older brothers in Brainerd and rarely sees his father, who lives out of state. He will be 12 next month and will enter seventh grade in the fall. He has had some problems in school but likes gym, art and reading. He enjoys badminton, ping pong, bike riding, bowling, pool, swimming, woodworking, fishing, model building, video games, concerts, animals, snowmobiling and other "stuff." The one activity he would like to try, but has not had a chance, is camping.

Jason describes himself as quiet but happy. His mom says he can be quiet, but once you get to know him, he's also very friendly and outgoing and makes friends easily. What he needs is a guy in his life who is a positive role model, likes to be active and will be his friend.

Don't wait until the day you finally have your life in order. Contact the Kinship office today to find out more about Jason or any of the other children on the waiting list at 829-4606 in Brainerd, info@kinshippartners.org or toll free (if you are in the northern lakes or Crosby areas) at (877) 730-5437. Or go to www.kinship partners.org.