Our Mission:
Mentor.
Empowering, equipping, and encouraging young people to make better choices through the power of one-to-one or group mentoring friendships.
What We Do
Caldwell Friends falls in a Community-Based mentoring program. Mentors and Mentees in this program participate in one-to-one outings and activities after school.
They enjoy doing things like: playing basketball, watching a game, listening to music on your smartphone, baking, fishing, attending festivals or catching a movie.
Some mentors and Mentees meet on the weekends. Others get together with their Mentees in the evenings. Each match is unique, lasting at least 6 months to one year, and they develop a schedule that works for them.
Our Impact
The life circumstances our children and youth face are poverty, single-parent homes, grandparents raising grandchildren, full time working parents, unhealthy environment situations, mental illness, addictions, bullying, gangs, and failing academically. Caldwell Friends mentors strive to be friends with children who can easily fall between the cracks.
1,148+
hours spent with children
This past year hours of one to one mentoring relationships have been spent with young people who need a mentor.
40
Years Serving our community
Caldwell Friends has been serving Caldwell County communities since 1983.
80%
success rate
Young people who successfully complete our program and gain positive behavior changes and increased interest in school.
Our Programs
Caldwell Friends is mentoring and more. Providing a variety of programs, Mentors and Mentees experience positive mentoring relationships. Our programs create learning opportunities for young people by strengthening relationships and equipping Mentees to begin to make healthier decisions.
YES!
YES stands for Youth Educational Support. It’s a monthly support program for both Mentors and Mentees. YES is a hub for young people to find positive peer and adult interactions through fun and educational activities.
Mentor training
Biannually, Mentors pick a topic of choice to explore and further their Mentor skills.
monthly social events
Each month, Caldwell Friends host monthly social events for the youth and mentors in the program. During these events, we do a variety of activities including crafting, playing games with one another, playing in the park, planting, or any activity voted on by the youth. These are great opportunities for our program participants to see each other and work collaboratively!
MENTAL HEALTH EMPHASIS
Following the Covid-19 Pandemic, Caldwell Friends has placed an added emphasis on strenghtening our support system for youth and mentors. This is our proactive approach in hoping to curb staggering mental health rates throughout the community.
back to school bash
Annually we have our back to school bash where the youth and their mentors go to Kool Park Pool. At this event, backpacks filled with supplies are given to the youth.
the spirit of giving
Each year, the First United Methodist Church is kind enough to provide gift cards to Caldwell Friends allowing us to purchase presents for the youth and their siblings! We are so grateful to be the representative of this generosity and hope that it inspires our youth to help out others, both now and in the future.
Get Involved
There are kids ages 6-18 waiting for mentors. The mentors in our program have a fun and influential experience mentoring. So please take a moment and consider serving as a mentor to make a difference in a child’s life.
The Requirements?
A mentor is to be:
Be at least 18 years of age
Have means of transportation and a valid drivers license
Complete an application, which includes references and a criminal background check
Spend at least 2 to 3 hours a week or 8 to 12 hours a month with a child
Sign Up to mentor
Mentoring is easy and fun. Your mentoring journey can begin with a click below! Just download the file, print or edit, and email or mail!
Volunteer opportunities
Whether is be hosting an event, helping at a festival, playing games with our Caldwell Friends, or being a Board Member, there is a spot for you and your talents!
Make a Donation
Caldwell Friends would not be possible without the support the support from the community. All donations are apprecaited and used directly for Caldwell Friends.