Mentor Programs

The Boys and Girls Club of Meriden’s Mentor Programs are designed to help kids who don’t have enough grown-ups in their lives to support their needs. Some of our Club Kids are growing up with busy, working parents or a single caregiver, or maybe they’re being raised by grandma or another relative—folks who may not have the time to spend doing fun activities with their children.

That’s where you come in! Mentors create a critical connection between a young person and an older, more experienced one. Mentors are just regular folks looking to make a difference in a child’s life by providing support that benefits a kid’s development. By donating just a little of your time every month, you’ll be helping a child to improve their self-confidence, enhance their self-esteem, and even get better grades.

But mostly you’ll just do fun stuff like go to a movie, play catch or tag, sit down with a board game, or go get some fast food. You can also check out a game, go to a concert, or take your little buddy to a museum or on a hike or go fishing with them. It’s really not complicated. You hang out with one of our awesome Club Kids a few hours a month and the benefits for that kid mount with every minute you spend together.

Listen: We know you’re busy, we know you work hard, and we know how difficult it is to come by a little extra time. But it’s that little bit of extra time that can quite literally change a young person’s life, and we’re not exaggerating at all.

Call our Mentoring Director Emily Mulligan (203-235-8185) right now to learn more. You’ll be glad you did, and so will a kid that’s been waiting for a qualified mentor.

We currently have two Mentor Programs at the Club: Project: HERO and The Big Buddy ⚡ Little Buddy Program.

Project: HERO

Project: HERO is our Mentoring Program for Mentors 18 years or older who want to make a big difference in a little kid's life. We’re seeking responsible adult volunteers (Heroes) who want to spend quality time with a cool child (Sidekick) once a week, more if you’d like. Studies show that just a few hours spent having social recreation time every month with a non-parental adult can have an enormously positive effect later in life for these amazing young people. Take your Sidekick to the park, to a movie, to lunch, to a water park, or a museum or a ball game…whatever the two of you want, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The point is to have fun, spend a little time together and bring some hope to a child that needs it.

Flyer Hero Application PDF Sidekick Application PDF

Big Buddy ⚡ Little Buddy Program

This Program is designed specifically for qualified high school students (Big Buddies) who want to make a difference in the life of an at-risk child (Little Buddy). We’re looking for responsible and reliable high school students in their junior or senior year who are caring, compassionate, and willing to be a role model for their Little Buddy. We’re seeking at least a six-month commitment, which will go by so quickly that you’ll be requesting another six months before you know it! If you have a kid that needs a mentor, fill out the Little Buddy application below; if you’re a high schooler looking to make an impact, open up the Big Buddy application. Or just call the Club at 203-235-8185 and ask for Emily. Now-ish would be awesome.

Flyer Big Buddy Application PDF Little Buddy Application PDF

For More Information or Questions

Please call or email today. Thank you for your interest!

Emily Mulligan, Mentoring Director
Phone: (203) 558-4353
Email: EMulligan@bgcmeriden.org