"It (mentoring) is something I enjoy doing…to get her out and show her there's more to life than what she's seen so far."

Shaula Lee is a relatively new volunteer with the HOPE Mentoring and Tutoring Program, but she has certainly thrown herself whole-heartedly into her role as mentor!

Shaula works for the Department of Social Services and one day she happened to spot a notice for mentors in the county building. She went to speak to Thomi Quackenbush and Donna McCraith, who jointly head up the HOPE Program. "When she [Shaula] asked us for information on our mentoring program last September, we both thought she would be fabulous," says Quackenbush. About a week later, Shaula was off and running as a mentor!

The HOPE Mentoring and Tutoring Program matches adult volunteers with youth ranging in age from 4-17. The youth may be living at home or in foster care, but they share the common characteristic that each of them could use another supportive adult in his or her life. Each child is matched with regard to his or her specific needs, while the mentor's preferences are also taken into account.

Shaula was matched with a twelve-year-old girl and the pair meets twice a week- on Wednesday evenings for about three hours and on Saturdays for seven or eight hours! During the weekday, Shaula teaches her mentee how to cook, helps to improve her reading skills, or they just spend the time talking together. On their weekend visits they typically do craft projects or go on "field trips," to a play or the zoo, for example.

Innovatively, Shaula sat down with her mentee the first day they met to discuss their expectations for the partnership. They talked about trust, responsibility, and keeping appointments, among other things. They laid out these expectations in a contract, which they both signed. Shaula says that this has worked really well and she thinks that it is important to give her mentee some standards to which she is expected to hold herself. Shaula also gave the girl a date book to keep organized, and she emphasizes to her the courtesy of letting people know when she has to cancel plans.

Shaula notes that an important part of her responsibility to her mentee is to broaden the girl's horizons. Shaula works to "get her out and show her there's more to life than what she's seen so far." Over the holidays, the pair volunteered together, sorting toys for families in need. Her mentee was really enthusiastic about the experience and asked if they could do it again. Shaula says it opened the girl's eyes to the fact that there are people who have more struggles than she does.

The coordinators of the HOPE program have been pleased to see the match doing well. "We have been equally impressed by Shaula's ability to work through rough spots and her upbeat and thoughtful approach to the fun times they have had together," says Quackenbush. "She has established a balance of fun, enriching and meaningful activities with the girl."

Shaula likes spending time with her mentee because she is "really bright and enthusiastic." Her philosophy on volunteering as a mentor is that it must be fun. She says, quite simply, "It's something I enjoy doing."

If mentoring sounds like something you might also enjoy, now is the perfect time to get involved because January is National Mentoring Month. Share what you know. Mentor a Child!

For information about volunteering with the HOPE Mentoring and Tutoring Program through the Department of Social Services or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.