A new initiative in southeastern South Dakota needs 500 mentors for students who need encouragement. The program serves kids in public schools throughout Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties.
Lutheran Social Services coordinates 1,100 people in two counties who mentor kids. But more than 700 students are on a waiting list for a positive, attentive influence. That’s one reason for a new effort in the Sioux Falls area to mobilize 500 more mentors in the next three years.
Michelle Madsen is the program director for mentoring services for LSS. She says students don’t get mentors based on income or location. The program serves anybody.
"Kids who just need extra support and encouragement. Kids who might have a single-parent family or who might struggle making friends at school or kids who are just kind of going through some rough times at home. Those are all kids that could benefit from a mentor," Madsen says.
Madsen says mentors commit to meeting with a child for one hour each week. They play board games or shoot hoops – they spend quality time with the kids.
"Our mentors don’t go in with an agenda. They’re not there to tutor a student, or they’re not there as a consequence for a student," Madsen says. "They’re there strictly just to be a friend and support and just kind of love on that kid."
Madsen says the most important asset in a mentor is consistency, because kids count on their mentors to show up and spend time with them each week.
Committee members who are mentors now are reaching out to business leaders surrounding Sioux Falls. They hope companies will encourage their employees to volunteer, because mentoring is an opportunity for workforce development at any age.
You can find information aboutthe mentoring program online. Plus tune into Dakota Midday Thursday at 12 p.m. central for a comprehensive discussion with host Karl Gehrke.