The Mission

The Melrose CARES Community Mentoring Program links Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students with volunteer adults from the community to provide consistent support and guidance, both in a group setting and on a one-to-one basis. The purpose of these relationships is to encourage students to develop resiliency and to make positive life choices.

The Mentors

• Mentors must be at least 21 years of age, great listeners, positive role-models and people who like to have fun!
• Must be individuals who once they make a commitment can stick to it.

The Program

• The program kicks off with an initial training for the mentors.
• Meetings with the students begin with approximately six consecutive weeks of meetings as a group. This allows mentors and students to get to know each other and build trust in a group setting.
• Group activities in the past have included icebreakers, exciting games, interesting guest speakers, art activities and outings! MAAV staff plan and lead all group meetings, as well as providing ongoing supervision & support to the mentors.
• Meetings are held at the Common Ground Teen Center located in the basement of the Hope Alliance Church, corner of Lynn Fells Parkway and Green Street in Melrose.

The Ongoing Commitment

• Following the initial six group meetings, the group continues to meet once a month.
• Mentors and students are then expected to also meet on their own once a month for activities that are mutually agreed upon.
• These activities can be as simple as taking a walk, going out for ice cream, or going to the movies.
• Students are expected to pay their own way for activities which involve a cost. Local businesses in Melrose serve as "Community Partners," providing coupons to local pizza, ice cream and coffee shops.

The Impact

"I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to put the time in, with three kids of my own and their busy schedule, but after the initial six weeks it was really on my own schedule. It was really easy to work around both of our schedules. The fact that the group meetings were planned for us make it easier than I expected it would be."

-Joan Bell, 2006 Mentor

"I went into the program thinking I was going to be helping someone else, but I ended up gaining so much myself. The student I worked with really opened my heart. It was a great experience."

-Chuck Person, 2006 Mentor

"My first thought was that he’s a grown up, so he won’t really understand me, but then I found out he went through the same things I go through."

-Student

The Next Step

To learn more about the program, please contact Sharon Loveridge, Program Coordinator at 781.662.2010 or at sloveridge@maav.org.

Current and former mentors are also happy to speak with prospective mentors about their experience in the program. Please contact Sharon for more information.

If you are interested in applying to be a mentor, please print the application form directly from our web site, complete and mail to:

Mentoring Program
MAAV
235 West Foster Street
Melrose, MA 02176.

We will contact you shortly after receiving your application.

Thank for your support!