Community Corner
Be a Hero: Mentor a Child at the Bridge Youth and Family Services
An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, for individuals interested in learning more about becoming a mentor.
The Bridge Youth and Family Services in Palatine is joining organizations across the nation in recruiting volunteers for its mentoring program during January for National Mentoring Month. An information session will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, for those who are interested in volunteering for this program.
“We know that youth in the program benefit tremendously from having a mentor, though mentors often say they get more than they give by being one,” said Nancy Kukanos, volunteer coordinator at the 50+ year social service agency. “The Bridge is fortunate to have a friendly, fun-loving group of adult volunteers who want to help kids overcome challenges and lead happier, more successful lives.”
As a mentor, individuals will have the opportunity to be a kid’s hero, friend, teacher, caring listener and coach. Mentors help children learn, problem-solve, communicate and get along better with others. Research shows that mentoring improves school attendance and performance, reduces violent behavior, decreases the likelihood of drug use and improves relationships with friends and family members.
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In the Bridge’s mentoring program, volunteers over the age of 21 are paired with youth between the ages of 7 and 15 in need of a positive adult role model. Mentors are asked to spend two to four hours per week with a child over the course of one year, a commitment that research has shown works best for the child. The Bridge staff and other experienced mentors provide training and ongoing support.
As one former mentee of the program stated, “My mentor is one of the few people who knows me in my soul. She inspires me. I wouldn’t be half the person I am without her. I want to tell anyone considering becoming a mentor that mentoring is an amazing thing and it is really important. You could save a life and never even know it.”
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A few hours a week can change a life forever.
To RSVP for the information session on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. at The Bridge Youth and Family Services, 721 S. Quentin Road, Suite 103, Palatine, please call or email the Mentor Program Coordinator Liz Dobrzynski at 847-485-3061 or ldobrzynski@bridgeyouth.org.
To learn more about the Bridge, please visit bridgeyouth.org.
