Lunch Buddy program at Pioneer school benefits teens and adults

At age 15, Vanessa Jones already knows that she wants to teach kindergarten but worries that not being able to read well aloud is an obstacle to her dream. Thanks to the Mid-Willamette Valley YMCA's Lunch Buddy program, once a week for 45 minutes she has the chance to practice reading aloud to Carole Kment, a chronic care grant coordinator at Samaritan Health Services.

In its second year at Pioneer School, the Y-Mentoring Lunch Buddy program pairs adult volunteers with a seventh or eighth-grader identified by the school as a student who is likely to benefit from having a non-parent adult to talk to once a week.

&#8220Research has shown that if kids have at least one caring adult who is a non-parent they are more apt to become successful members of society and make better choices," said Kathleen Magnuson, YMCA youth and family services director.

Thyanna Voisine, 13, is a model of student achievement. She's a straight A student who skipped the seventh-grade. She's a science fair winner, gymnastic competitor, writer, and she's learning how to care for children with autism. She credits other adults, including her Lunch Buddy, Nancy Kirks, with helping her succeed.

After passing a criminal background check, volunteers attend a two-hour training session where they learn the ground rules for the program, such as no contact outside of school and what to do if they learn of abuse or neglect, and then are assigned a student who they will mentor until May.

&#8220We don't spend a lot of energy deciding who is to be matched with who," Magnuson said. &#8220If there is one thing they have in common, that's enough of a start to get them going."

Magnuson stays in touch with the mentors throughout the year to offer guidance and answer any questions or concerns. At the end of the school year, the mentor-student relationship ends unless both participants decide to continue through the YMCA's One-on-one mentoring program that is similar to the Big Brother/Big Sister programs. One-on-one mentors are required to complete training that is more extensive and have a clean five-year driving record to qualify. After completing training, mentors meet with their youth, or &#8220junior partner" outside of a school setting.

The YMCA has chosen middle school students for the program because it is a time in their lives when they are starting to consider

what they want to do with their futures. Most of the Pioneer mentors work for Samaritan Health Services in Lebanon and share the steps they took to get their job and how important education has been to them.

Thomas Aplet, 14, who is interest in science - he's torn between a career in medicine or computers - found an ideal mentor in Richard Wopat, a physician at Samaritan.

&#8220I asked him how much education it takes to be a doctor - a lot," Aplet said, sighing at the thought all those extra years of school.

Recognizing teen health issues as a significant concern that brought Wopat, who has three grown children of his own, into the program. &#8220Plus I get this great food," he added.

Lunch buddies meet once a week and usually share lunch in the school library. Magnuson attributes the flexibility in scheduling what day of the week they are going to meet with their student as part of the attraction of the program to mentors.

&#8220It's more appealing to some people who don't have a lot of time or might be busy with their families but have that flexibility at work."

Mentors say they anticipate their day at school as much as the students do. Roxanne Rawls has been meeting with Sarah Simon, 13, with

whom she shares a love of wiener dogs, every Monday since September. &#8220I really look forward to Mondays when I get to come here. Sarah is wonderful. She's very decisive about what's right and what's wrong and choosing to do the right thing and I'm very impressed with her for that," Rawls said.

The seven mentors in the Pioneer program this year are more than double the number who signed up last year, but there are still children in need of mentors, said Roseanne Hartness, Pioneer School classroom supervisor. &#8220Even with a few months left (until the end of the school year) it is worth it"

And the benefits flow both ways. All the mentors speak of how much they have learned from their partnership with the middle schoolers.

&#8220Really, I'm learning more from Thyanna because she's so bright and goal-orientated. I'm sort of humble next to her; she's so amazing," Kirks said. &#8220This has been the most incredible experience for me. I get way more out of it than I put into it."

To become a Lunch Buddy

Requirements:

At least 19 years of age

No criminal background

Attend a training and orientation session

Contact: Kathleen Magnuson

Youth and Families Services Director

Mid-Willamette Family YMCA

(541) 926-4488 ext. 306 or Pioneer School, (541) 451-8487