Mentoring Programs seek community support

Kathy Schwartzhoff, Marilyn Zweibohmer from Helping Services; program particpants Bob Felde and Parker Monroe

The mentoring program run by Helping Services for Northeast Iowa on Thursday kicked off a $13,000 fund drive for the mentoring programs in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties.  Signs are going up in Decorah with a thermometer on them which will be used to track the progress of the fund drive.
 
Helping Services' Mentoring Programs centers the fund drive around their BIG Bowl-A-Thon taking place at Oneota Lanes in Decorah on March 22nd.  The programs are seeking donations from individuals, businesses, and community groups with the goal of raising $13,000 to support the mission of the program.
 
Mentoring Programs created their BIG theme because their funding sources are being reduced due to Federal funding cuts.  The focus became not just raising BIG funds, but having community members understand that their investment is also BIG.  

Sponsorships are currently being sought from businesses and individuals to become sponsors for the event.  Already, $6,400 has been raised.  Community support will be tallied using thermometers in several community locations:  Culver's and Helping Services' office in Decorah, the Waukon Wellness Center/NICC site, and at Beadle Park in Cresco.  It will be exciting to watch the red thermometer marker raise as community support grows.

There are competitive and fun-filled ideas flowing in the community as businesses, friends, and families are forming teams to participate at the event.  Teams consist of four team members who agree to collect donations for the mentoring program.  Each bowler is to collect $50 or more to support mentoring.  Teams can request to bowl at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. and must register by either contacting Kathy at Helping Services, 563-387-1720 or
log into www.helpingservices.org/mentoring

Mentoring Programs strive to connect youth with caring adults in the counties of Allamakee, Howard,and Winneshiek programs.  Mentors spend 4-5 hours per month with their youth doing things they both enjoy.  Mentors and mentees are needed to help the program grow.  There is a particular need for girls ages 5-16 in Waukon, Decorah, and Cresco.

For more information on how you can become involved in the BIG Mentoring Bowl-A-Thon or Mentoring Programs at Helping Services, please contact Kathy or Marilyn at 563-387-1720 or
www.helpingservices.org/mentoring