Mentors Who Make a Difference

January is National Mentoring Month, so that means we have a lot to celebrate at LHCC! One of the core parts of our program involves providing mentors for our kids and watching them build relationships. Each Tuesday we have between 35-45 volunteers dedicate their time to the kids at LHCC, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and we hope they feel loved and appreciated by us and the kids. Our volunteers are truly exemplary mentors. They model and teach life lessons, study skills, help the students build literacy and math skills, foster their spiritual growth, and they just have fun together! The kids light up each week when they see the volunteers, and their lives are being shaped and changed by these relationships. Outside of school our kids do not have much interaction with English-speaking adults. We can all think of teachers, coaches, and other adults who served as mentors to us growing up. I am sure you can think of a story of how they helped guide and inspire you. One day, the kids at LHCC will think back on the people that impacted their lives, and I know they will remember fondly the mentors that helped change their life at LHCC.

In the spirit of National Mentoring Month, we did a short interview with one of our volunteers, Josh! Josh regularly tutors a kid on Tuesday and comes on Thursdays to continue to spend time with the kids. He has gone camping overnight with our families and he started leading his own program with our kids on Thursdays. He embodies what it means to be a mentor that changes lives. Check out his interview below!

Where are you from?

I’m from West Des Moines, Iowa.

What is your occupation?

I’m a mechatronic engineer at Schaeffler Group. I design and build the things that make robots move.

When did you start volunteering with LHCC and how did you hear about us?

I started volunteering with LHCC at the end of January 2023, and I heard about LHCC because one of my friends at work volunteered with them on MLK Jr. weekend. I’d been looking for someplace to volunteer, and LHCC’s mission seemed very well aligned with what I think this world needs more of: investment in the values, education, and self-image of today’s youth. 

Describe the project you started with LHCC students. 

I started a project on Thursday nights where I teach the kids how to make 3D models with free Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, then 3D print those designs. So far we’ve designed nametags, Christmas ornaments, cookie cutters, and rocket ships. Our next project will be designing the wheels of rubber band cars to go as far as possible, as fast as possible, and climb the steepest hill possible. The end goal of this project is for the kids to design their own products that they can then 3D print and sell on Etsy. This will show them a bit of what it is like to start a business, and that starting your own business is much more within reach than most people think!

Why do you continue to support LHCC?

I continue to support LHCC for multiple reasons. First of all, the kids are SO COOL! It’s a joy to see them every week and get to know them better. Second, from everything I’ve seen LHCC is achieving what it has set out to do. The community here is warm and inviting, and the kids are receiving focused help on their homework. The 1-on-1 tutoring setup really helps with this. In my own tutor buddy I’ve seen a huge improvement in reading since we started last year, and great strides in math too!

What is your favorite part about being a mentor to our kids?

My favorite part is actually getting to know the kids. It’s great to be able to help tutor them and help them succeed in school, but it’s the impromptu soccer games after tutoring and joking around during time with Sports Outreach that I really enjoy.

Share a funny or memorable story from your time with us.

One of my favorite memories is when we taught the kids how to play two-hand touch rugby during Sports Outreach. Rugby is my favorite sport, and it was a lot of fun to teach the kids how to play! Not only that, some of the players from the Queens University Women’s Rugby Team were there to help teach as well, and they had some really fun and goofy warmup drills for the kids to do.