You’ve graduated college and you’re in the beginning stages of your career and looking for ways to give back. There are multiple ways to volunteer; for Jenni it was mentoring, “I had recently switched jobs and knew that I needed to make volunteering more important in my life.” Jenni has been a mentor through Save Our Youth (SOY) since October 2011.
Jenni and Jonae
There are many benefits to mentoring through SOY. Jenni appreciates the time and commitment that the SOY staff places on matching mentors and mentees. Mentor specialists at SOY ensure that all youth are the ones requesting mentors. Most other mentoring organizations have parents or guardians request mentors – it makes a big difference when the child asks! Thorough interviews with mentors and mentees are also done to make sure all matches are compatible and share the same interests.
Jonae, Jenni’s mentee, enjoys spending time at Jenni’s house. “We did a project from, uh [Jenni cuts in] Pinterest! She did the whole project with me. We went to Home Depot to cut the wood and then we just ‘madge padged’ some pictures onto the wood,” said Jonae.
Drew Witt, another mentor through SOY, moved to Colorado to plant a Church downtown while starting his own painting company. When you ask Drew why he takes time out of his busy life for mentoring he says, “The need, there’s such a need for mentoring. To be able to give back and invest in kids, that’s where my heart lies.”
David and Drew
For Drew and his mentee David, they find themselves doing more ‘guy’ activities. “We had a really good time at the last Avalanche game because it went to overtime. It was 10:00 p.m. and we were going crazy!” recalls David.
SOY makes it a priority to provide all mentors with free resources. Almost weekly, mentors are emailed with FREE ticket opportunities for sporting events, plays or concerts.
There are many other kids like David, who before meeting Drew said, “I really wanted a mentor – someone I can look up to.”
Denver Rescue Mission (DRM) partners with SOY. When families move in to The Crossing, all the kids between 10 and 17 years-old are informed about the mentoring program. Joe Bermingham, youth coordinator at DRM, believes that the mentoring program is a significant part in the youth experience. “The kids that participate in the mentoring program have a better chance of graduating high school and pursuing college. Becoming a mentor truly impacts a child’s future – it’s incredible to witness the impact,” says Joe.
What would it look like to actually take the time to invest in another life? To get to know them, spend time with them, and to love them? Find out by contacting Sarah Caldwell at SCaldwell@denrescue.org and begin the fulfilling adventure of mentorship!
Written by, David Gauch (Public Relations Intern)
Champa House
