Silver Dollar City Foundation's

Care For Kids Mentor Program

Care For Kids added in-school mentoring programs to support the emotional and mental needs of kids. Mentoring options include "Book Buddies," where volunteers read books with students who may need some extra help or attention, and "Lunch Buddies," where volunteers have lunch with students once a week. The school administrators choose or design programs to meet needs at their individual schools.

To facilitate the mentoring programs, the Foundation works with area churches, training volunteers to take part in programs the schools identify as important to their individual needs. Over 180 volunteers from 70 area churches were certified through the training program and worked in the school districts during the 2009 school year.

School administrators say they could use hundreds more mentors, who provide positive role models, assist kids having trouble keeping up with schoolwork, and help build self-esteem in kids, Baltes said. Because of the positive response, the Foundation is expanding those programs this year and putting out the call for more volunteers.

"And next, finding that a child who is hurting often has a family hurting as well, we're expanding our focus over the long term to also include family mentoring," Baltes said. The Foundation is developing programs for family mentors which involves additional training with seven area family outreach ministries.

For questions or to become involved:

Contact: Chris Butler at Blue Eye Elementary

417-779-4318 or Email Chris Butler