Kinship Partners picks up 17 new mentors
CHILD IN NEED
Question: What does an office manager, priest, floral designer and utility lineman have in common? Answer: They have all applied to be mentors during the Kinship Partners 100 Mentors 100 Days recruitment campaign! Kinship is currently into its fourth week of an area-wide mentor drive, which concludes Dec. 10.
To date, 17 individuals, including the ones above, have answered the call to "Be a Friend be a Mentor" to children in need of positive adult role models.
Just as our adult partners come from varied backgrounds and life experiences so do the kids on our waiting list. Usually new Kinship enrollees are between the ages of 5 and 14, but there are times when a special circumstance touches our hearts and exceptions are made.
Just this past week Jake and his mom visited the Lake Country Kinship office in Pequot Lakes. Jake has a good buddy who has a Kinship partner and a teacher mentioned that he, too, could benefit from having a partner.
The problem? Jake is in the 11th grade, 16 years old and beyond our usual criteria. Jake's mom said she wishes she would have realized Kinship existed when Jake was younger, as he has had very little contact with his dad for about 5 years.
Jake displays impeccable manners, a welcoming handshake and the desire to go fishing, bowling and eat good quantities of Chinese food! He works as a dishwasher in a local restaurant and wants to learn more about cooking.
He loves animals and someday wants to be a vet. His mom wants a mentor for her son to help him "do man things" and become a little stronger in stressful situations.
As the season changes, please consider making another change and add one of our waiting Kinship kids to your life. They enjoy doing many of the same activities that you do. Become a mentor for what you can give. Stay a mentor for what you receive.
In Brainerd and Crosby call 829-4606 and in the Pequot Lakes and Pine River areas call 568-4015, or toll free 1-877-730-5437. Access our website and check out our waiting kids profiles at www.kinshippartners.org. The kids are waiting for you!