Though Emma Stewart has plenty of responsibilities between high school, dance and work, she makes time for an additional, special commitment each week. The rising senior at Bow High School meets with Brooke Hull, an 11-year-old Bow student, through the Concord-based Friends Youth Mentoring Program.
“I began mentoring Brooke in the beginning of 2014, and I’m very glad I got matched up with her,” said Stewart, “I heard about it through some girls at school and it sounded like a lot of fun.”
Hull and Stewart have been meeting weekly during the academic year, and will continue through Stewart’s senior year. They meet at the Bow Youth Center to play games, do crafts, and talk. Stewart looks forward to her time with Hull each week.
“I like hanging out with Brooke for an hour a week because it’s a nice break from my regular schedule,” Stewart said. “Brooke and I get along very well, and it’s great to watch her find her voice and grow more sure of herself week to week.”
Hull joined the Friends Program in 2010 as a shy, somewhat withdrawn first-grader. As the daughter of a single, working mother, Hull values the one-on-one time with a mentor who is, during those meetings, entirely devoted to her.
Hull’s mother, Deb, is just as happy with her daughter’s Friends Program mentor.
“[Brooke] really enjoys her time with Emma and looks forward to their meetings,” she said. “Brooke has always been a natural caregiver and she’s definitely starting to take cues from Emma. She’s so supportive and a great role model for Brooke.”
The Friends Program asks site-based, volunteer mentors to spend an hour or two with their mentees each week for two academic years. Mentors must be at least 16 years old when they begin, and complete an orientation and screening process through the agency. The mentees – deemed “at risk” or “in need” for a variety of possible reasons – certainly benefit from the consistent support in their lives, but they aren’t the only ones.
“This experience has been great for me,” said Stewart. “I really feel like I’m making Brooke’s day a little better when I meet with her, and she definitely makes my day more fun.”
Having learned first-hand about the impact a role model can make, Hull wants to return the favor one day. “She really has a passion for giving back, and she’d like to volunteer to help other kids someday,” Hull’s mother said.
Stewart is not the only Bow teenager who has stepped up to give her time and talents to a deserving youth. Mackenzie Evans, a rising junior at Bow High School, also volunteers with the Friends Program. She mentors Ashley Panzino, 9, who needed some extra one-on-one time with a role model.
Panzino’s mother was hoping that a Friends Program mentor would help develop her daughter’s confidence and social skills. Apparently, it has done just that.
“[Ashley and I] have spent a lot of time together doing arts and crafts, making pictures, and talking,” Evans said of her mentee. “She’s opened up. She’s more confident with me and other people we see at the Bow Youth Center.”
Evans and Panzino both look forward to their weekly meetings. Panzino has found a consistent source of support, and Evans has seen the positive effect on both of them.
“I think it’s been really good for both of us,” Evans said. “[Ashley] is such a fun soul. I’m happy to know that I’m making a difference for her, but I think she’s rubbing off on me just as much.”
There are about 75 kids on the Friends Program waitlist, all hoping for a mentor. The Youth Mentoring Program works exclusively with Merrimack County youths, and their stories are extraordinary.
A 13-year-old Bow girl, whose mother recently passed away, is looking for a female role model to spend time with her once a week. She is social and friendly, and she loves to paint nails. Though she’s shy at first, this girl likes to shop and do things outside.
Another Bow girl, 10 years old and one of many siblings, is kind and compassionate. Her family is coping with the loss of her father, who died in combat overseas. She is looking for a warm, patient mentor who can be a source of consistent support in her life.
For those interested in making a difference in the life of a local kid, there are plenty of children waiting for you to step in and donate an hour a week. The Friends Program staff can help you begin the mentoring process, and will provide support and assistance throughout your time with the program. For more information or to register for a mentor orientation, call Lia or Susanne at 228-0108.
