Child in need
Kids are still waiting
Our list of children waiting to be matched with an adult partner continues to grow.
It is so difficult to go out and meet these children, tell them all about our program, share information with them about some of our successful partnerships, and then have to caution them that they may be on our waiting list for a while (sometimes longer than a year!) because there aren't enough adult partners to go around. Almost all of these children want to get their own partner "tomorrow!"
The other part of this job that is very difficult is seeing the needs of these children and being limited in what one can do to help. Dealing with their parents' divorce, recovering from being in an abusive situation, poverty, loneliness, temporary homelessness, low ability, low self-esteem, coping with a parent's illness, and feelings of just not fitting in are some of the issues KP kids have to deal with.
The best part of this job is seeing the effects a positive, long-standing relationship has on these children! Children blossoming in their social development, kids experiencing "first-time" events with their adult partners, better attitudes, smiling faces, and feelings of acceptance and love are just a few of the visible changes.
How would you like to be a catalyst for creating these changes in a young person's life? You may be just the right partner for 14-year-old Paul who lives for basketball, 10-year-old Keith who loves winter and winter-time activities, 7-year-old Alan who loves "everything," 8-year-old Anna who needs to get away from her younger brother and sisters, 8-year-old Beth who loves swimming and experimenting with hair-dos and make-up, or 10-year-old Bret who loves wrestling and video games. Despite their various needs, these are just typical children who want to have fun with a friend; and if that friend can be someone positive and caring, so much the better!
If you think you're the type of person who could help bring about positive changes in one of these kids' lives, please call us to get an application or more information. Please contact us at any of our offices: Brainerd 829-4606, kinship@brainerd.net; Crosby 546-7308, kinship2@emily.net; or Pequot Lakes 568-4015, kinship@uslink.net.