True Collaborative Spirit Results in Fun for Kids!

About 90 Kids 'n Kinship participants enjoyed a fun-filled day at the Minnesota Valley YMCA in Burnsville on Sunday April 21!  Kids 'n Kinship is a private non-profit 501(c)3 organization serving Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount by matching children and youth with individuals, couples, and families for weekly activities at their home and in the community.  Mentors, mentees, kids on the waiting list, and their families had a blast swimming in the pool, playing floor hockey in the gym, and enjoying a tasty meal with donations from Noodles & Co. Burnsville. Rose plants were given to our volunteer mentors in appreciation of their weekly service and dedication to the children they mentor.   Kids ‘n Kinship wishes to thank Southern Dakota Scott Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for sponsoring the event!  Also thanks to Single Volunteers of the Twin Cities members who volunteered with us that day!  This annual event demonstrates true collaborative spirit in the community!  If you're interested in getting started as a mentor, attend our next information session, Wed. May 15, 6-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library.  To RSVP or for more information, check out our website www.kidsnkinship.org

Guest Blog: In Honor of National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week

This week is National Volunteer Week and as board member and chair of Kids ‘n Kinship, I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank and express my appreciation to the Kids ‘n Kinship volunteers/mentors and all volunteers for their public service. It is the generous giving of time from volunteers that strengthens our communities; whether it be working with children, the elderly, the disenfranchised or protecting our environment and the animals.

I am very proud and honored to a part of Kids ‘n Kinship. Kids ‘n Kinship is a youth mentoring organization in Dakota County.  Its mission is to provide friendships (mentors) to children ages 5-16 who are in need of a positive adult role model. Mentors can be individuals, couples or families who are able to share just a few hours each week with a young person. Activities can include sports, games, crafts, being outdoors, or just hanging out. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, Kids ‘n Kinship currently has 80 young people matched with adults. And thanks to these volunteers, the waiting list for mentees gets shorter and shorter. But the need for mentors and volunteers is ongoing.

National Volunteer Week is not just an opportunity to express gratitude for all volunteers, but to encourage volunteerism. As any volunteer will tell you, “you always get back, more than you give”. If you're interested in learning more about mentoring & Kids 'n Kinship, you are invited to attend our next information session on Saturday April 27th, 2:00-2:45 pm at the Wescott Library in Eagan (1340 Wescott Rd.).  You can also check out our website www.kidsnkinship.org.

Janet Lekson
Board Member
Kids 'n Kinship

Guest Blog: Annual Kinship Conference report from Rita

What's new?  Well ideas for making the best mentor matches for one thing.  Last week I enjoyed learning, sharing best practices and hearing new ideas from some of the best mentoring programs in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin.  The annual Kinship Conference was in Brainerd and featured two days of interactive learning.  Want to know more about fundraising events, building a strong volunteer board of directors, insurance issues, etc?  Tune in to national and local practices resulting in long term meaningful mentor matches.  While there is a wealth of information offered on Mentoring websites (see below for a few), it was great to personally interact with professionals putting the information into practice.  I left the conference with lots of notes and a refreshed approach to matching great kids with great mentor volunteers. To find a Kinship mentor program near you, visit kinshipinc.org.

mpmn.org - The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota

mentoring.org - MENTOR, National Mentoring Partnership 

nwrel.org/mentoring - Education Northwest National Mentoring Center

- Rita Younger, Program Coordinator

Best Buy & Kids 'n Kinship team up to teach teens in the Tech Mentor program

On April 3^rd, 13 of our Kids ‘n Kinship teens each with their own coach, attended the first of three sessions for our new Tech Mentor Program.   Funded by Best Buy, these teens will attend classes that will teach them how to use a digital camera with video, how to upload, edit, post photos to social media, and how to make a slideshow or video.   Teens who complete the classes will be able to keep the cameras.  The skills they learn will assist them in their middle school and high school classes as well as in their social life and into future jobs.  The class is taught by a past mentee of the program who loves technology and is now a college graduate and a Best Buy employee.  The kids, volunteers and staff are all excited about this new project!

Can't wait to spend more time enjoying the outdoors? Neither can Eddie!

Eddie is 8 years old and he enjoys being outdoors fishing, swimming, bike riding & playing football and soccer.  He also likes movies, video games, board games & playing the drums.

Eddie is friendly and talkative and eager to have fun with a mentor. His lives with his mom whose medical issues prevent her from doing as much as she’d like to with him.

He would like a mentor who loves animals, the outdoors & sports.  His wish is that world would have no more bullying!
 

Could you be the mentor for him?  To learn more, go to www.kidsnkinship.org or attend an information session.  Our next one is Tuesday April 9th, 6-6:45 pm at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville.  RSVP to ihkinship@aol.com or 952-891-3885.  More dates listed on our website. Training & support provided.