Community Friends Mentoring

The Community Friends Mentoring program, now in its 25th year, supports area children by providing fun, caring mentoring relationships with adult volunteers. Mentoring pairs are carefully matched and then meet regularly to spend time together on their own in the community, sharing activities they both enjoy.

What’s it like being a Community Friends Mentor?

Think back to when you were a child. Was there an adult, other than your parents — maybe a neighbor, a family friend, an aunt or uncle, a coach — who shared time with you and made you feel special? When you become a Community Friends Mentor, you can do the same for a youth.
It’s about fun. Being a Community Friends Mentor is about having fun. It's about sharing time and exploring the world together. Our mentors provide inspiration, acceptance, challenge, a sympathetic ear, and exposure to new ideas and activities. If you can be a good friend to a young person, you can be a great mentor.
Become a volunteer or supporter of Community Friends Mentoring.

To get involved, e-mail kristenhw @howardcenter.org or call 802.488.6650.

It’s about a great match. Through our enrollment process, we get to know you so we can find the best match for you. Community Friends Mentoring is one of the oldest (25 years) and largest mentoring programs in Vermont, and we base our matches on your common interests, location, and time considerations. The Community Friends staff will be there to cheer you on and offer support because all friendships have their bumpy moments.
You choose activities. As a mentor you will always have a great excuse to do fun things and try something new. You and your mentee will spend about three hours per week for at least a year doing the activities of your choice. We encourage free and low-cost activities like going for a walk, a bike ride, or baking cookies.
Enjoy fishing and outdoor activities? Fishing for Friends, a partnership with Lake Champlain International, Inc., encourages anglers to become Community Friends Mentors. Interested matches receive fishing equipment and can choose to drop a line in the water while they hang out and tell fish tales.

F.A.Q.s

Where do the kids come from and what are they like?

Community Friends finds mentors for children ages 6-12 and up.
Children are referred to us by staff of HowardCenter, parents, school personnel, and other helping professionals.
The program serves youth across Chittenden County who could use extra one-to-one attention due to stresses in their lives.
Program personnel take into consideration children’s needs and desires for the program and their ability to interact well with a volunteer.
Both the child and her or his family need to be supportive of a mentoring relationship and anticipate being able to make a year commitment.
Boys make up 75% of our wait list.

I am so busy. How will I find the time?

All our volunteers lead busy lives, but they find that the time spent with a child is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of their week. The key to a successful mentoring relationship is that matches meet on a regular basis. For most matches, this means getting together approximately two to three hours a week. Some matches set a consistent every-other-week schedule.

Do I need to be an expert?

The Community Friends Mentor training will provide you with lots of helpful information about being a mentor. We also offer workshops on a variety of subjects related to mentoring and child development. And remember, the Community Friends staff is always there to lend a hand.

Top 6 reasons to become a mentor:

6. Your basketball is so neglected it looks more like a Frisbee.
5. You have a really nice bike, but you never ride it.
4. You secretly love playing with Legos.
3. Your home-baked cookies need help being eaten.
2. The last time you laughed so hard you cried was when you were a kid.
1. It’s a great excuse to act like a 10 year old!

What's in it for me?

For a few hours a month you get to feel like a kid again and not have to worry about your job, classes, or bills! The new perspective you gain as a mentor will brighten your world. Even better, you'll make a big difference in your community and in the life of a child. You'll enjoy the satisfaction of helping a young person improve his or her social skills and self-confidence. People who volunteer tend to be fulfilled, happy, optimistic, and productive.

Will we run out of things to do?

Every month the Community Friends newsletter will contain suggestions of activities in the community. As a mentor in Chittenden County, you will also receive a MOBIUS discount card for activities and meals. Our program provides occasional free tickets for events (theatre, sports, and cultural events), as well as monthly mentor-mentee activities such as potlucks, pizza and swim parties, and our annual water balloon fight. If you are still looking for suggestions for activities, click here for more ideas.

How do I get involved?

Download a mentor application.
E-mail Kristen Hayden-West, the Community Friends Coordinator (kristenhw @howardcenter.org), or call 802.488.6650. We’ll answer your questions and describe the many ways volunteers and children enrich each others’ lives.

Are there some other ways I can support Community Friends?

Yes! There are many one-time volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Nearly every month we hold a group event for our matches. We love to have volunteers to help out with crafts, games and other activities that we plan at our events. E-mail us for more information.

You can also support Community Friends by making a donation to the HowardCenter.

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