Mentoring provides new friendships

St. James Family Center’s Adult to Youth Mentoring Program wants to create new friendships this fall. Their goal is to link young people, Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, with caring, responsible adults. These adult friends, or mentors, model successful and appropriate behavior for the youth and together they enjoy and enrich each other’s lives by exploring common goals and interests.

Matched mentors and their mentees spend time together in mutually agreed upon activities that are of interest to the youth. The pairs spend at least one hour per week together, and mentors are asked to make a minimum commitment of one year.

“I would love to see five new Mentors sign up this fall,” said Patti Phillips, Mentoring Coordinator at St. James Family Center. “Our community has many children who would benefit greatly from a mentoring relationship and I would like to see that able to happen.”

An informational meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 29 at St. James Family Center, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., for adults wanting to know more about the program. Phillips, together with a Mental Health Consultant, will answer questions and explain what the commitment would involve.

“I want to encourage all interested men and women to join us for this informational meeting. I believe there are many friendships out there just waiting to happen.” Phillips said.

Wahkiakum Mentoring is funded by United Way. For further information, contact Phillips at St. James Family Center, 795-8612.