It’s worthwhile to volunteer
To the editor:
National Volunteer Week (April 15-21) recognizes the importance of volunteering.
I am one of those volunteers with the organization Kids ’n Kinship. It serves the communities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount.
It is a friendship mentoring program matching adult volunteers with children 5-16 in need of a supportive relationship.
We meet with our mentees weekly with activities which are fun for both. Four times a year all the mentors and mentees meet together: for swimming and basketball and lunch at the Burnsville YMCA; for rollerskating; for bowling; and at the beautiful YMCA Camp Streefland.
Other times free tickets are available to the Twins, theater and concerts.
My mentee and I have attended several plays, attended a Twins game, and a University of Minnesota gymnastic meet.
Right around home, we have cooked meals together, biked, cross country skied, played disc golf, had fun at a water park and read several books.
Throughout Kids ’n Kinship’s 40 years it has matched over 2,000 children with adults. At this time the organization needs 14 women to mentor girls and 27 men to mentor boys.
This is a very worthwhile experience for me. I have learned how one young girl can overcome one obstacle after another with her positive attitude. I encourage you to join us and call Kids ’n Kinship, (952) 892-6388, www.kidsnkinship.org.
CYNTHIA KOEHLER
Burnsville
