SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Mentoring program needs more volunteer mentors and is expanding its recruitment efforts.
Program Director Colleen Forneris said that her organization has attended a number of local events recently to help match more kids with potential mentors. Currently, the program has more kids than mentors.
“They all absolutely benefit from having an extra adult in their life,” Forneris said.
Mentees range in age from 7 to 17, and the majority of them are contending with challenging life circumstances that can range from problems in school to problems at home.
Mentors can serve as role models to these kids, giving them one-on-one support and granting them access to activities and events they otherwise wouldn’t experience. These activities can include hiking, going to the movies, exploring a museum, or bowling.
“The [mentors] that we have are absolutely fantastic and really have made a big difference in their kiddo’s life,” Forneris said.
Although mentors can come from many different walks of life, Forneris said they tend to fall into three categories: retirees looking for volunteer work, working professionals searching for a meaningful activity, and college students.
After filling out an application, prospective mentors meet with a Saratoga Mentoring representative to discuss their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and interests. That way, the mentor can be matched up with a kid who has similar preferences. This makes it easier for mentors and mentees to find activities they can do together.
Saratoga Mentoring expects a one-year commitment so that a connection can be built between mentor and mentee. On a weekly basis, most mentors spend anywhere from two to six hours with their kids.
Forneris said that one unique benefit of the program is that Saratoga Mentoring can utilize other resources and charities to help mentees with other life problems, such as paying bills or buying groceries and clothes.
To learn more about being a mentor or to fill out an application, visit saratogamentoring.org.
