There is good news for TeamMate mentors and mentees. They will be able to meet in person at Holt County schools again this school year. Many mentors met mentees only a few times last year or met virtually due to directed health measures. It was a time that many school children were in need of more support, but precautions to reduce the spread of Covid-19 interfered with mentors providing that support.
TeamMates was started in 1991 by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne. The mission of the TeamMates Mentoring Program is to impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. This program has spread to five states and is active in over 170 school districts.
There are seven schools in Holt County who have embraced this mission and are providing mentors to over 70 students. However, the not so good news is that 30 youth in schools across Holt County who have not yet been matched with a mentor. Mentor recruitment slowed dramatically last year, also likely due to Covid-19 concerns. We need volunteers to spend 30 minutes to an hour once a week with one of these youth at their school. Mentors “don’t have to be an expert. You just have to be there”. For more information about the TeamMates Academy that orients mentors, contact the coordinator for Holt County TeamMates, Cheleigh Sholes, at 402-340-1929.
