Still Making A Difference

Were there people in your life who encouraged you and helped you become the person you are today?
Thank them and pass it on. Mentor a child.

And many county residents do just that.
Celebrating its 15th year of serving the county’s children, Mentor Role Model currently has 130 volunteers who give of their time to help young people.
Founded in 1991, the program puts an at-risk youth with a responsible adult as a role model.
“We don’t ask them to tutor the children, just talk to them, play with them and share their life experiences,” said Executive Director Kevin Chandler.
“I know mentoring makes a difference,” he said.
Many of the young people served by the program, from kindergarten to the 12th grade, are referred to the program by the school system, according to Chandler.
“The teachers are a  very good source in identifying children the program can help,” he said.
Many of the children just lack social skills.
The program also offers a session at the middle school.
So how does the program find volunteers to fill this critical need?
“We simply ask if making a difference in a child’s life is something they would like to do,” he said.
The program also creates a rewarding relationship for the mentor.
“I’ve had mentors say it was a learning experience for them to know how some people respond to the cultural differences,” he said. “But the greatest reward is to know that you helped a child succeed.”
Mentor Lott Rogers Jr., who has been involved with the program for nine years, agrees.
“I personally think it’s a wonderful program,” he said. “We have been able to take many, many children who were struggling in school from both an academic and behavioral side and help them turn their attitudes about education around.”
Rogers, who also serves on the group’s Board of Directors, said he has been with one young man for all nine years he has been with the program.
“We started when he was in the second grade and we’ve just had a wonderful relationship,” he said. “He has improved his school work dramatically and hopefully we’re going to see him playing sports in a college in a couple of years.
“We talk about spending money wisely,” Rogers added. “To me, there’s no better way to spend it than to help a young person in their early school years change their attitude and become a good, productive citizen instead of a ward of society. And it works. If you hang in there and work with them, they will love you and you will love them. It works.”
Mentor Role Model asks only that a volunteer meet with a child one hour a week during school hours.
“The children look forward to it,” Chandler said. “It shows the child that someone else cares about them. A lot of them are raised by one parent who is usually working.”
Once a month, a group meets for the Second Saturday Fun Day where they enjoy different activities.
“This year, we have gone bowling and to a golf center,” Chandler said. “It was a great experience to see how children could pick up the game or hit a ball. We had some there who had never held a golf club but before the day was over they were all able to drive.”