Three cheers for Michelle Obama! In a recent TV interview with Barbara Walters, she urged listeners to volunteer as mentors for children and youth who have a parent actively deployed in the service of our country. What a wonderful benefit to the community that would be. I suggest that this campaign be extended to include not only children with a parent in the military, but also any children in single parent families.

Mentoring increases children’s self-esteem and confidence. Research shows that children with mentors are less likely to engage in risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug use. They feel more confident about schoolwork and are less likely to skip school.

Now that we’ve all opened our gifts and stuffed ourselves with Christmas cookies, it’s time to think about resolutions for the new year. What are you going to do to make this community better? If you like being with kids and have a couple of hours to spend each week, please contact me at STARS/Community Mentor Connection, 507-383-5272 or starsforkids@yahoo.com. You’ll be glad you did.

 

Carolyn Smith

mentoring coordinator

Alden