Phone-a-friend lunch generates some "yes"s for mentoring.
Community Connections Mentoring had its first ever phone-a-friend on Jan. 11, a mentor-recruiting activity.
“We ate, made phone calls to people we thought would be good mentors and had a lot of fun doing it,” said George Haws, who assists Angela Hipp in coordinating the community based program. Community Connections Mentoring matches adults with children from kindergarten through 7th grade.
North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher attended the event and read a proclaimation declaring January as Mentoring Month in the city, corresponding to National Mentoring Month.
People spread in out in a large meeting room provided by Nebraskaland Bank at 1400 S. Dewey, and got on their phones—and got a few “yes”’s.
The event was supported by Mentor Nebraska. Melissa Mayo, executive director of the non-profit organization spoke to the group about the importance of mentoring in our community, and the value the relationship provides to children and their mentors.
There are a number of children waiting to be matched with adult mentors, said Angela, and other children who could benefit by enrolling in the program—but more adults are needed to fill the gap.
Community Connections Mentors spend about an hour per week with their mentees. They attend an group “Impact” program on the first Monday of the month, where they have a meal and do fun activities to learn important social/emotional skills. Usually there is also another group activity each month. Other than that, mentoring pairs have free access to the North Platte Recreation Center and children’s museum, and can spend time going shopping, playing at the park, doing crafts or working on homework, running errands, walking the dog, shooting hoops, eating lunch together at school, etc.
Mentors must be 18 years or older and be able to pass a background check. The application is available on the Community Connections Mentoring web page.
PHOTO: Angela Hipp, Mayor Kelliher and Melissa Mayo show the mayor’s Mentoring Month proclamation.
SEE THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH STORY ABOUT THE PHONE-A-FRIEND EVENT, AT: