Become a Mentor During National
Mentoring Month

Many children live without the support and guidance of a parent or trusted adult, a situation that can lead to serious problems in adulthood.

Such children need mentors. And you can help.
The Salvation Army is encouraging the public to become a mentor during National Mentoring Month, a campaign spearheaded seven years ago by the Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health.

The Salvation Army needs mentors for its Project Break-Through (PBT) program. In PBT, mentors help struggling families make long-term life changes by sticking with them during a year of comprehensive intervention.

“Mentors don’t have to be a savior or therapist,” said Sarah Lipker, PBT volunteer coordinator. “They just need to be people willing to give a part of themselves to somebody else. They just have to be a friend.”

Right now PBT includes about 35 families and nearly 20 mentors.

“More mentors are needed,” said Lipker, adding that PBT serves families in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Anoka County.

Every year The Salvation Army throws a Christmas party for PBT families and mentors. This year’s celebration was held at the Playworks Link Event Center in Prior Lake, where kids ate food, played computer games, opened presents and zigzagged through a massive, five-level playpen similar to a McDonald’s PlayPlace. To view photos of the event click here.

To learn more about becoming a PBT mentor, call 651-746-3427.

For information about mentoring opportunities outside of The Salvation Army, visit www.mentoringworks.org.