Mentors needed for program

A local mentoring program is searching for adult volunteers.

TeamMates, the Tom and Nancy Osborne mentoring program entering its 23rd year of operation, matches adult mentors with students.

During the 2021 school year, the Summerland TeamMates program will add students from the Ewing community.

Program co-coordinator Mike Tabbert said, “This will increase our current mentee count from around 40 to 60. That means we need a minimum of 20 new mentors.”

Mentoring is easy, according to Tabbert.

“All you have to do is show up. It is proven that even one additional caring adult in a student’s life increases attendance, increases grades and decreases instances requiring disciplinary action,” Tabbert said.

Mentors meet with students once a week, at school during school hours, to play a board game, take a walk, shoot hoops, eat lunch or simply visit.

You can sign up to be a mentor at http://www.TeamMates.org/become-a-mentor and click the “Apply to Mentor” button.

Tabbert said basic information is required in order to do a background check.

“Safety is TeamMates first priority,” he said.

For more information, contact coordinators Mike Tabbert or Anita Tabbert at Summerland School.