Gift Used To Provide Activity Equipment For Mentoring And The Youth Center
The recent Bowl for Hoosick Kids event raised more than $7,000 for MentorWorks, the new mentoring program in Hoosick Falls. Of that amount, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics made a generous contribution of $1,600 for activity equipment to be used at the Hoosick Falls Youth Center. A portion of the funds were used to purchase a Wii system, accessories and software that can be used by mentoring pairs meeting at the Youth Center and by children and families who are members of the Youth Center.
Recently, representatives from Saint-Gobain visited the youth center for a tour, to see the new Wii system, and to discuss the mentoring program.
HAPPY (Hoosick Area Partnership for Parents and Youth) administers the mentoring program, which is primarily funded through a U.S. Department of Education grant.
When mentoring matches begin meeting in February they will have the option of spending their time together at the mentee’s school, Hoosick Falls Central School or St. Mary’s Academy, or at the Youth Center. Program Director Aelish Nealon commented that with the schools providing transportation to the Center every weekday, the Youth Center is an ideal place for mentors and mentees to meet. “The Youth Center location offers a number of activities for the matches to enjoy,” she said. “Basketball, table games, creative arts, board games, computers and now the new Wii system allow the mentors and mentees to spend fun, relaxing time together building their relationship.” She added that the Youth Center is also available for mentoring meetings on the weekends, making it a great fit for mentors with tight schedules.
Already more than forty people have begun the process to become mentors and mentees in the new program, which is designed to help youth in the Hoosick Falls community develop their talents and skills through one-on-one partnerships with caring adults. Eventually there will be at least 35 mentoring matches made through the program. “We are well on our way to that target,” stated Nealon, “but more volunteer adults, particularly young men, are needed to provide all the interested children with a mentor.”
To learn more about being a mentor, please contact Aelish Nealon at the Youth Center, 518-686-9050, or visit www.hoosickyouth.org.