Gorge Youth Mentoring Urgently Seeks Volunteers in Wasco, Hood River, and Klickitat Counties
From The Next Door Inc.:
By Jordan Flores
The Dalles Ore. March 18, 2024 — Gorge Youth Mentoring, also known as GYM, is a community-based program of The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) serving Wasco, Hood River, and Klickitat Counties. GYM pairs local youth, or mentees, ages 6-21 in need of positive role modeling with an adult volunteer mentor based on similar interests, personalities, and needs. There are currently 41 matches across three counties, however, we still have over 30 mentees on our waitlist, waiting for a consistent, positive relationship with a mentor they can depend on.
Research shows that mentoring programs are very effective at preventing negative outcomes and promoting resilience among at-risk youth. As mentees spend time with their mentors, their self-esteem increases, they have more positive experiences in school, and they have better relationships with others. Every day, GYM mentors show up for the youth in our community, helping them with homework, taking them on fun adventures, and meeting with other matches to build community.
As a program, GYM provides monthly events for matches to participate in, doing our best to offer options for all interests and ability levels. These have consisted of art projects, and themed activities such as “gratitude walks”, white water rafting, and stand-up paddle boarding, just to name a few. Matches also plan their own activities, meeting consistently for a year or more. GYM asks that matches get together at least twice a month, but many see each other more often, and spend time doing fun things like hiking, baking, arts and crafts, and more.
Our greatest need right now is for adult volunteers to enroll and spend time with youth in their community; no special skills are required, just the desire to make a difference! If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a mentor, please visit https://www.nextdoorinc.org/youth-services to fill out the GYM application listed in the “Program Resources” section. You may also contact Kateel Muhs, TNDI’s Youth Services Community & Family Programs Manager, by phone (503)867-5770 or email kateelm@nextdoorinc.org.
The Next Door Inc. (TNDI), the largest social service agency in the Gorge, was founded in 1971 to address the unmet need of support services for youth. Today, TNDI’s employees facilitate over 35 programs that strive to fulfill our mission of opening doors to new possibilities by strengthening children and families and improving communities in Oregon and Washington. For more information, please visit https://nextdoorinc.org/
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