Mentoring

Friends of Children of Walla Walla

Whitman Mentor Program

Friends of Children of Walla Walla

Contact: Mark Brown, Executive Director, 120 E. Birch, Suite #10, Walla Walla, WA 99362, 509-527-4745, mark@wallawallafriends.org

Mission: Friends is a local non-profit providing community-based and school-based mentoring opportunities to children in the Walla Walla Valley. Our mission is to "improve lives and communities--one child at a time" by providing a safe, consistent adult presence outside the home to children in need of such a presence.

Volunteer Opportunities: Friends recruits adult friends (mentors) to spend at least one hour a week with a child (6-18 years old). Service organizations and clubs can volunteer to host a special event for our adult friends and youth to enjoy together. Volunteers can also help out with office work, such as making phone calls and performing data entry.

Required Skills: Volunteer mentors must be able to maintain clear boundaries and expectations, relate well with others, and spend focused time with a child. Friends pairs volunteers with children based on similar interests, preferences, and expectations. Reliable and consistent adults commit to mentor one same-gendered child for at least one year. Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old and pass a background check.

Skills Learned: Volunteer mentors can strengthen their communication skills (including cross-cultural skills if matched with a child from a difference cultural background) and develop their experience working with a child one-on-one (including special areas of request, such as children with disabilities). Office volunteers can strengthen their clerical, communication, and organizational skills.

Training: All adult volunteer mentors are screened and then trained in a 2 1/2 hour training covering policies and procedures, safety, boundaries, communication skills. Ongoing special-topic trainings are also offered periodically.

Volunteer Types:

• Individuals who can meet with a child on a weekly basis
• Individuals who can come into the office on a regular basis
• Individuals who can help out with a project occasionally when it fits his/her schedule
• Individual who can help out once to help with a big project

Whitman Mentor Program

Contact: Kelsie Butts, Community Service Coordinator, Whitman College, 345 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, 509-527-5765, mentor@whitman.edu

Mission: The Whitman Mentor Program matches Whitman College students with local elementary and middle school kids for a one-on-one friendship through our school-based mentoring program.

Volunteer Opportunities: Whitman students get together with their mentee once a week for an  hour during their mentee's lunchtime. They play on the playground together or play board games, read a book, or visit with each other.

Required Skills: Volunteers should be Whitman College students, interested in engaging in the community and motivated to make positive changes.

Skills Learned: Volunteers will learn to engage in their community, recognize the impact of their contributions, and make a positive difference in the life of another individual. 

Training: Volunteers are trained for our programs during our training periods at the beginning of each semester. 

• Individuals who can come on a regular basis