The Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau has a mentoring program for youth called the JUMP program. The JUMP program offers children the chance to interact with adult volunteers, participate in fun activities and spend time with a positive role model. In today’s world there are so many more decisions and challenges for youth. Sometimes single parents or families with many children, don’t have the time or resources to give their children opportunities to experience new things. Because of this, it is important that adults in the community step up to the plate and offer their time and life experience to support the youth.
In order to get the word out about the children waiting for a mentor, the YSB and the Journal Review partner to publish a series of articles describing the children who would love to have a mentor. Their names and ages have been changed slightly to protect their privacy.
Brandon is 9 years old and lives with his grandparents and three other siblings. Brandon’s grandmother works full-time and takes care of the four children as best she can. She makes sure they are involved in Boy Scouts and school sports whenever possible. What she doesn’t have is time to give each child the individual attention they need nor any real outside activities due to limited time and finances.
Brandon is a great child who is currently involved in Cub Scouts and math and reading groups at school. Math is Brandon’s favorite subject. He also likes to play tag, ride bikes, go fishing, bowling and swimming. When Brandon grows up he would like to be a firefighter and if he could learn something new it would be to ride a motorcycle.
His grandmother describes Brandon as a typical 9-year-old who makes friends easily. He can be quiet when he first meets you but once you get to know him he is friendly and loveable. Brandon is happiest when he is doing something outdoors. He also enjoys playing basketball and football with his brother and cousin. She really wants Brandon to have a mentor because it would be good for him to have one on one attention from another adult.
“Brandon is a very sweet kid and would be a great match for anyone but especially someone who likes to be outdoors,” said Jill Hampton, JUMP program manager. “He could be matched with a male mentor or a married couple that would like to mentor a young boy. He is easy to talk to and would bring joy into the life of anyone who spends time with him.”
If you are a male or married couple who would like to become a mentor to Brandon, contact Hampton at 765-362-0694, ext. 103, or email her at jill@mcysb.orb.
To learn more about the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau visit www.mcysb.org or visit their Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/mcysb.org.
The Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau is a United Fund Partner Agency.
