By Linda Parsons | Program Coordinator
This is the 20th year of the North Clackamas Lunch Buddy program and we have hit the school year running! We had very few adult Buddies leave the program after last school year and we've gotten all of the remaining adult Buddies rematched either with their previous Buddy or a new one. We also have 17 new adults in various stages of being screened and trained to be Lunch Buddy mentors. We have Lunch Buddies meeting in 14 elementary schools and 1 middle school in North Clackamas.
An exciting trend this Fall is that the majority of our new adult mentors are men. They are being matched up with boys around the district, many of whom have been in need of extra support since last school year. Both the adults and the children seem to be thrilled with their new friend. Seeing the look on a child's face when they meet their new Buddy for the first time is typically priceless. Children are so excited to have one-on-one support and attention from a caring, consistent adult. The adults have seemed equally enthralled with this new young person who is soaking up their attention and reminding them what it is like to be a kid again.
There are children at every elementary school that could benefit from a positive adult in their lives. Not only are we always seeking additional adult mentors but we are a privately funded program that contracts with the North Clackamas School District. The number of children we can serve each year is limited to the amount of money we are able to raise to keep this very worthy program going.
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