January is National Mentoring Month. January 29 is the actual day to say thank you specifically to someone who has been a mentor to you.
At the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau, the JUMP program would like to do just that. The JUMP program is a mentoring program similar to the Big Brother/Big Sister program where an adult volunteer is matched with a youth from our community. They spend time together every week and they become friends and a source of support for each other.
Although the pandemic has made meeting face to face more difficult, some continue to meet face to face wearing masks while others hove come up with different methods. Things such as facetime, email, handwritten letters and dropping off gifts and crafts on the mentee’s door steps help them both to maintain their connection.
Since 2004, the JUMP program has matched more than 346 kids with a mentor. During 2020, 72 kids were served by the JUMP program with 63 current, active matches. Research has shown that having a mentor makes a big difference in providing our youth with the tools they need to make responsible choices, attend school and reduce risky behavior. These children are:
• 53% more likely to be enrolled in college.
• 78% more likely to become volunteers themselves.
• More than twice as likely to hold a leadership position in a club or on a sports team.
• 81% more likely to participate on a team or join a club after school.
The JUMP program is very proud to be such an important part of the lives of the youth in our community. We are also very proud of the adult volunteers who so generously give their time and support to these kids. By doing this, they make such a difference in their lives.
Many thanks go out to all the mentors in the JUMP program both past and present. Although they are appreciated throughout the year, it is nice to have a month and a day dedicated to letting them know they are wonderful people and positive role models. Their participation will have a lasting effect not only on the kids they are spending time with but for our community as a whole.
Thanks to all of you who have been a part of the JUMP program and continue to help with its success and ability to serve our youth.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or if you know of a child that could benefit from having a mentor, contact Jill Hampton at 765-362-0694, ext. 103, or email jill@mcysb.org.
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.
