"Impact": food, fun and social/emotional learning

Impact is a social-emotional learning program for everyone involved in Community Connections Mentoring. “We always have a meal and fun activities that teach important skills such as overcoming challenges, showing respect and acceptance for others, and working toward goals,” said George Haws. He conducts the program along with Mentoring Coordinator Angela Hipp.

Impact meetings are on the first Monday of the month and are made possible by generous donations of meeting space by North Platte Senior Center, and by a $1,000 grant from Walmart Distribution Center to pay for food and supplies.

Community Connections Mentoring also has other group activities, such as one at Gary’s Super Foods at 1620 E. 4th St. on Jan. 18. Brenda Aufdenkamp, University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension educator based in North Platte, involved the group in a “scavenger hunt” to find and gain importaint information from the labels of food for an upcoming taco-making activity. (See the attached photo.)