Mentoring Network Inc

We arrived at the counselor’s room for the match meeting and her bright smile greeted us at the door. Throughout the entire meeting this little mentee’s face just glowed. I stayed in the room while she showed her new mentor around the school. The counselor met them in the hall and came up to me to ask what we’d done. I explained we’d just made a new match. “No,” he said, “What did you do? She hasn’t smiled the entire year until now. What did you do to make her smile?” This was 6 months into the school year, so I was a bit taken back, but really, this explains what we do. We find wonderful people who are willing to say, “I care for you and I want to spend time with you every week.” LOVE truly is spelled T-I-M-E to a child. All she wanted was someone to care, someone to see what she could be, someone to make a difference

A mentor called, ready to quit. “I just don’t think I’m making a difference. All he wants to do is play games.” A quick call to the counselor told a different story.  “His behavior is so much better since he’s had a mentor.”  “You are the only stable adult in his life.” “He’s getting more involved at school.” “He’s not as angry anymore.” “He knows you will be there for him, no matter what has happened during his week. He knows you care about him and are on his side.” Mentors are usually the last person to know the impact they are making. All he needed was someone to care, someone to see what he could be, someone to make a difference

A boy, who has had a mentor for three years, told her about a friend in his class who was struggling with some of the same things he had struggled with.  He thinks maybe a mentor would help his friend too. What did his mentor do that helped? She showed up. She listened. She cared. They played games. Sometimes they walked around outside.  But that was all he needed. Just someone to care, someone to see what he could be, someone to make a difference. We’re looking for a mentor for his friend. Would you like to mentor?

The stories go on and on. We have mentors mentoring in other districts because their mentees have moved there. Others who mentor through letters and email while they travel, just letting the child know that someone out there cares enough to write them a note. Mentoring is about communication. It’s about being there and taking an interest in a child, even if being there is from a distance.

“Mentors are always there for you. They’re there for you when you’re sad or when you’re having emotional problems or even when you’re having bad grades. It’s really helpful. And they become your best friend.”Mentee—8th grade, 5 years in The MN

“When I was younger, I had a lot of problems and I was glad that I had someone to hang out with and talk to. I think that people just need somebody so they don’t fall through the cracks. That’s why I personally believe that this is an awesome program” Mentee—11th grade, 7 years in the MN

These stories are real and lives are transformed because individuals like you see a child’s potential. Thank you so much for caring, for believing in our youth, for making a difference.

Everywhere we go, we tell these stories of hope.  We have recruited wonderful, caring adults from throughout the community, yet the need for mentors continues to grow. The Mentoring Network, Inc. serves five rural school districts (Nampa, Caldwell, Parma, Homedale, Vallivue) offering school-based mentoring to at-risk students, grades 1st-8th.  The goals of the mentoring program are to improve at-risk students' attendance, grades, and behaviors through friendship building with responsible, caring adults (18yrs. and older) who meet with their student one hour, once a week, on the school grounds, during the school year.

The needs are such that we could easily double the number of children served if enough caring adults would step up and say:  “I want to help transform a child’s life.”

Please give to help us create more stories of hope by finding wonderful adults to match with children who desperately need a faithful friend.